After winning a pair of tough games over Connecticut College and Tufts University over the weekend, the men's hockey team sits alone in first place as they head into the final stretch of the season. But, as in years past, when the calendar turns to February, Amherst knows that the perennial powers are waiting. With upcoming conference showdowns against Bowdoin College, Colby College, Middlebury College and Williams College, there is reason to believe that the final weeks of the season will be ones to remember for the Amherst hockey program.

On Friday night, the 12th-ranked Jeffs traveled to New London, Conn., to battle a stronger Camel squad than they've played in past years. The Camels jumped ahead five minutes into the opening period with a power-play goal, but the Jeffs answered minutes later. Defenseman Rylan Burns '09 found the net with forwards Brandon Zangel '07 and Brendan Powers '09 collecting helpers on the man-advantage tally. Following a scoreless second period, Amherst found the eventual game-winner on the stick of defenseman Jeff Landers '09, as forwards Joel Covelli '09 and Sean Ellis '07 provided the assists. That was all the scoring senior netminder Josh Fillman needed, as he turned aside 23 shots for his 10th victory.

Saturday afternoon, Amherst faced a struggling Tufts University. With rookie goalie A.J. Scola '09 making the start between the pipes, the Amherst offense didn't miss a beat, providing Scola with a three-goal lead through the first two periods. Covelli started things off with less than two minutes to play in the first period, finishing off feeds from Will Collins '09 and Kyle Schoppel '08. Covelli and Schoppel would provide the next Amherst tally, this time with Schoppel tickling the twine and Zangel tossing out another assist. Powers continued his impressive sophomore stint with his eighth goal of the season; captain Ellis picked up his 14th assist of the season. Tufts would get one back, but Ellis found the empty net with about three minutes to play. Tufts again muscled their way within a pair, but Schoppel put the Jumbos on ice with his eighth tally of the season, finally putting the Jumbos away.

The Jeffs currently have a slim two-point lead over Little Three rival Wesleyan University. Amherst's 9-3-1 record has been fueled by the highest scoring offense in the NESCAC, and much of that success can be attributed to the play of sophomore transfer Covelli. Covelli's league-high 20 assists is eight better than the next highest player. Covelli has Ellis and Schoppel to thank for much of that success. Ellis sits second in the conference in scoring and Schoppel is fifth, with each seeming to play better and better as the year has progressed.

With the Maine schools anticipating their huge road trip to Amherst this weekend, the Jeffs will have little time to enjoy their top ranking. No one is letting them forget how past years have progressed: a high ranking early in the season followed by disappointing losses to Bowdoin, Colby, Williams and Middlebury. Nothing could be more thrilling than an opportunity to host the NESCAC tournament, but, more importantly, the Jeffs must seal a home playoff game, something that would be almost assured with a weekend sweep.

"Its great to be first in the NESCAC," said Schoppel. "It puts us in a great position heading into our last six regular season games. But nothing is certain at this point. With the way the league is this year six games can mean the difference between first and eighth."

The Jeffs know they will have to scrap for every point this weekend. Colby's tremendous scoring depth, boasting six of the top 20 scorers in the league, and Bowdoin's strong special team units make that virtually a given.

NESCAC Notes

Amherst's Covelli and Ellis are 1-2 in point scoring. Amherst is 11th in the nation in total offense. Wesleyan's Mike Palladino has been an incredible force in net, allowing a meager 15 goals in 10 games.