AMHERST, MA. – The Wesleyan men's hockey team suffered their first loss of the season Friday night at the hands of NESCAC opponent Amherst. The Cardinals got out to a 2-0 lead midway through the 2^nd period, holding that advantage well into the 3^rd period. The Mammoths then erupted for two goals in the final five minutes of the 3^rd period to force overtime. Amherst completed their comeback three minutes into the overtime period, putting through their third goal in the final seven plus minutes of game action to pick up the win. The Mammoths improve to 3-1-1 (2-0-0 NESCAC). Wesleyan drops their first game of 2022-23, falling to 4-1-0 (2-1-0 NESCAC).

Wesleyan and Amherst face off for the 108^th time in their histories, with the Mammoths holding a 73-25-10 record with the win Friday. The Cardinals have controlled the series as of recently however, with Wesleyan holding a 4-1-1 record in their last six games heading into the game today. This contest went into overtime, the 21^st time this has happened in their long history.

The first period was a back-and-forth affair with the two NESCAC schools tied at eight shots on goal apiece. The Cardinals had a late power play opportunity that leaked into the second period, but they only managed one shot on goal that was saved by Amherst's Alex Wisco.

The Cardinals earned another power play chance just over a minute later where they created a handful of shots and scoring chances. Their best chance to that point came on the power play where Jake Lachance '23 unloaded a slap shot from just inside the blue line that ricocheted off the crossbar before being cleared by the Amherst penalty kill. The Mammoths managed seven shots on goal, included four in over a two-minute period midway through the 2^nd, that were all handled by Erik Voloshin '24. Wesleyan then capitalized on their first goal of the game. Colin Cobb '23 picked up the lose puck after a faceoff and immediately took it at Wisco, beating him glove side with a nifty move to his left.

The Cardinals weren't done, scoring a second goal less than a minute later. This time it was Emmet Powell '23 cleaning up a mess in front as Jeremy Abraham '24 was taken down on his move, crashing into the goalie. Two Cardinals couldn't finish the deal with Wisco taken out of the play, but Powell came in and capitalized on the open net opportunity on the third attempt for the Cards to give them a two-goal advantage.

The two teams traded shots off the pipe to start the period, but both goalies looked sharp for the next 10 minutes as the game seemed destined for a 2-0 victory for the Cardinals. Amherst couldn't convert on two power play chances and the Wesleyan defense looked like it was going to hold on. Amherst then came through with their first goal of the game with just under four minutes left. They came right back with the equalizer just two minutes later, emptying their net for the extra attacker in the final minute and a half. Quinton Fox redirected a shot right in front of the goal to even the score at two. In overtime, the Mammoths completed the late-game comeback with a goal three minutes in to give the Cardinals their first loss on the year.

Cobb scored his first goal of the season, while Powell nets his 2^nd of 2022-23. Wiggle Kerbrat '23 adds an assist, now having recorded at least one point in all five games this year. Voloshin made a season-high 29 saves. Amherst outshot the Cardinals 32-21.

Wesleyan will look to get back to their winning ways Saturday December 3^rd, where they will travel to Hamilton for their second conference game in as many days