Daniel Weiniger '13 recorded his third career hat trick and nationally ranked No. 2 Bowdoin College defeated Hamilton College 5-2 in a NESCAC game at Bowdoin’s Watson Arena on Feb. 2.
The Polar Bears (17-2-1 overall, 11-2-1 NESCAC) are 6-0-2 in their last eight meetings with the Continentals, including a 6-2 win at Hamilton on Jan. 5. Bowdoin's offense is ranked fifth in Division III with 4.45 goals per game.
Robert Toczylowski '13 and John McGinnis '15 scored the other goals for Bowdoin. Ollie Koo '14 recorded two assists and is tied for the Division III lead with 23 points by a defenseman. Max Fenkell '15 stopped 30 shots and improved his record to 7-0-1. Fenkell is ranked third in Division III with a .940 save percentage and leads the NESCAC with a 1.83 goals against average.
Anthony Ruberto '13 and Nick Vassos '15 scored one goal apiece for the Continentals. Pat Curtis '15, Patrick Sen '15 and Brad Prevel '16 were credited with one assist each. Curtis leads the team with nine helpers. Joe Quattrocchi '14 made 30 saves.
Bowdoin struck first at 3:29 of the first period on Weiniger’s first goal. Colin Downey '14 carried the puck around the back of the net and sent a pass to Weiniger for a one-timer from the left faceoff circle.
Hamilton (5-12-3, 3-9-2) answered 73 seconds later on Vassos’ first goal with the Continentals. Vassos set up in the slot and fed Sen on the right, who quickly gave it right back. Still in the slot, Vassos fired a one-timer past Fenkell for the equalizer.
The Polar Bears took the lead for good on McGinnis’ goal at 10:03 of the first. Quattrocchi made a save on a shot by Danny Palumbo '15. McGinnis corralled the rebound and got off another shot, but Quattrocchi turned it away. The puck slid free just beyond the left post and McGinnis flipped in a backhanded shot for his 10th goal.
Bowdoin pushed its lead to 3-1 with 32 seconds remaining in the opening period when Koo fed Toczylowski on the right side for a shot that slipped inside the left post for his 10th goal. Koo had a hand in the next goal at 9:53 of the second period with his sharp pass from the goal line across the crease to Weiniger on the left side for a 4-1 advantage.
The Continentals got one back to make it 4-2 on Ruberto’s team-best seventh goal with 7:13 left in the third. Ruberto’s shot hit Fenkell in the chest before falling in for a goal. Prevel and Curtis were credited with the assists.
Hamilton pulled Quattrocchi with 95 seconds to go, but Weiniger completed the hat trick on an empty-netter from the right faceoff circle with 59 ticks left. He has 14 goals this season.
Bowdoin held a slight shot advantage at 35-32, and kept the Continentals scoreless on six power-play chances. The Polar Bears were 0-for-2 on the power play.
The Continentals stay on the road for another conference game at Connecticut College on Friday, Feb. 8.
