Rookie Jeff Landers assisted on the Jeffs' lone score and earned all-tournament honors on Sunday.

Jeffs Suffer 4-1 Middlebury Classic Championship Loss

FROM A MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE RELEASE

January 1, 2006

MIDDLEBURY, VT- The Middlebury College men's hockey squad held Amherst College scoreless for over 50 minutes as the top-ranked Panthers defeated the Jeffs in the Holiday Classic Final, 4-1. With the win, the tournament hosts took the Classic championship and remain undefeated at 8-0-1, while Amherst falls to 4-4-1.

Middlebury's Kyle Koziara scored the opening goal eight minutes into the game, but the Jeffs answered just over a minute later to tie the game 1-1 off an A.J. Greco (Williamsville, NY) power play score. Junior Brandon Zangel (Highlands Ranch, CO) and rookie Jeff Landers (Hanover, MA) assisted on the goal, but the tie would be as close as Amherst would get. The Panthers found the back of the net again before the whistle to close the first frame with a 2-1 edge.

Middlebury increased its lead to 3-1 at 7:39 in the second period and added the insurance tally at 11:12 of the third.

Amherst goalkeeper junior Josh Fillman (Charlestown, MA) finished with 25 saves for the Jeffs, while Middlebury's Doug Raeder earned tournament MVP honors with 20 stops. Both Greco and Landers were named to the all-tournament team for their weekend performances.

Amherst returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. against visiting ECAC East foe Babson College.

BOX SCORE