Senior A.J. Greco netted a pair of goals to open the season on Friday night.

Jeffs Post 3-1 Season Opening Win Over Wesleyan

November 18, 2005

By Ryan O'Donnell '08

AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College men's hockey team opened its season on Friday night with a 3-1 win over visiting NESCAC and Little Three rival Wesleyan University before an enthusiastic crowd. Junior goaltender Josh Fillman (Charlestown, MA) made 31 saves and senior A.J. Greco (Williamsville, NY) scored two goals to lead the Jeffs.

Sophomore forward Andrew Schremp (Denver,CO) opened the scoring for Amherst 13 minutes into the first period, sliding a loose puck under Wesleyan first-year goalie Mike Palladino (Litchfield, CT) off assists from sophomore Sean Ellis (Springfield, MA) and junior Trevor Calamel (Lockport, NY). Greco added to the lead two minutes later on a beautiful deflection over the goalie's right shoulder from a Rob Stevenson (Newton, MA) slap shot. Greco wasn't finished and notched his second goal of the game late in the second period on the power play with Kyle Schoppel (Cambridge, ON) and Stevenson tallying assists to give the Jeffs a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

That was all the scoring Fillman needed as he turned away shot after shot to secure the win for Amherst. Amherst's physical defense was lead by junior Brandon Zangel (Highlands Ranch, CO), who knocked countless Cardinal skaters to the ice with bone-crushing open-ice hits. Wesleyan's Will Bennett (Dedham, MA) spoiled the shutout late in the game with a power-play goal.

Amherst returns to action tomorrow (Saturday), hosting fourth-ranked NESCAC foe Trinity College.

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