NESCAC

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Middlebury at Amherst just got underway today.  Both of these teams got bumped out of the top 25 this week, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of them or both make it back into the top 25 by the end of the regular season.

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Middlebury Amherst still scoreless 28 minutes into the game.  Middlebury definately having the better of play.  As I'm typing, Amherst charged with a handball in the box - penalty kick for Middlebury and they convert so Middlebury up 1-0 over Amherst.

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Amherst with a great opportunity with about 10 minutes left in the half but a great save by the Middlebury GK keeps it 1-0 in favor of Middlebury.

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Didn't get to watch the second half but Middlebury holds on for the 1-0 win on the road at Amherst with the lone goal coming from a handball penalty kick in the first half.

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Today wraps up the regular season for all of the NESCAC teams with 10 of the 11 teams playing against each other (Hamilton's regular season is already complete).

Williams (NPI #12) is first in the conference with 22 points followed closely by Tufts (NPI #6) at 21 points.  Hamilton (NPI #28) is sitting on 20 points but done for the regular season and Colby (NPI #30) and Middlebury (NPI #35) are tied with 17 points.

Williams is playing at Middlebury at 3pm while Tufts plays at Bowdoin (NPI #171) starting at 6pm.  On paper, Tufts has the easier game and should come away with 3 points.  That means Williams could lose first place in the conference standings unless they secure a win at Middlebury this afternoon.

[CentPA]

Williams secures the 1-0 win at Middlebury and will finish the regular season at the top of the NESCAC conference standings for the first time since 2018 - which was also the last year they won the NCAA National Championship.

Tufts who is ranked ahead of Williams in the NPI (#6 v #12) finishes in second place but Williams will get to play at home through the conference championships as long as they keep winning.

[CentPA]

With Amherst finishing in tenth place in the conference it will be the first time in 25 straight years (excluding the 2020 COVID season) that the Mammoths will not play in the post season conference championship tournament!