Hartford, Conn.. - Junior forward Keith Nelson (Manalapan, N.J.) scored the go-ahead goal 10:42 into the third period to lead the visiting Amherst College Lord Jeffs to a 5-3 victory over the Trinity College Bantams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's ice hockey season opener this evening at Williams Rink. 

Amherst led, 2-0, after the first period on a power play goal by freshman forward Mark Colp (Wareham, Mass.) and a late goal by fellow rookie Mike Baran (Duxbury, Mass.).  Trinity junior defenseman Ryan Crapser (Paxton, Mass.) netted the first Bantam goal of the season 2:56 into the second period on a power play opportunity with assists by classmates Michael Mortimer (Spencer, Mass.) and Richard Hollstein (Palmyra, Pa.).  Amherst freshman forward Ed Effinger (Belleville, Mo.) answered with the first of his two goals in the game 6:29 into the second stanza, but the Bantams rallied to score twice in the final 7:02 of the period to knot the game at 3-3 at the second intermission.  Sophomore forward Justin Letizia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and freshman forward Paul Jaskot (Methuen, Mass.) tallied the Bantam goals.

Nelson broke the tie with a shot that deflected off a Bantam defender past Trinity sophomore goalie Wesley Vesprini (Lexington, Mass.), and Effinger added an insurance goal in the final minute, intercepting a Trinity pass with his hand in front of Vesprini and dropping the puck down for a quick shot into the net.  Vesprini finished with 31 saves, while Hollstein had two assists for the Bantams.  Lord Jeff sophomore Jonathan LaRose (Boyle, Alberta) stopped 26 shots.

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