Scoring Flurry Goes Wentworth’s Way, Tops Men’s Ice Hockey, 7-4

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 20, 2023) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team saw the visiting Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology score four powerplay goals on their way to a 7-4 win over the Golden Bears on Friday night from the Olympia Ice Center. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-10-1, 3-8-1 CCC
• Wentworth Institute: 4-11-1, 2-9-1 CCC

How it Happened:

Western New England's Kyle Knight needed 1:18 to get the Golden Bears onto the scoreboard after a turnover in front of the Wentworth goal would lead to a quick shot and a WNE goal to give the Golden Bears the first goal of the game on their first shot of the game. Just a minute and 38 seconds later, the Leopards would take their first shot of the game and would also find the back of the net when Josh Faussett evened the score at one. After back-and-forth play, which saw Western New England win the majority of the faceoffs, WNE would surrender their second goal of the period when Nikolas Sombrowski found twine on assists from Hunter Wilson and Matt Smoliga to give WIT their first lead of the game. Western New England would turn their luck around in the late going of the first period when Jordan Giacomin would win a board battle and send John D'Aniello up the ice. D'Aniello would flick the puck on goal from the center ice dot and would see the puck go through the five-hole of Wentworth keeper Jack McGovern and into the back of the net to give WNE their second goal of the night. The period would end with an even score as Western New England came away with the shot advantage, 11-9. 

Wentworth would grab their lead back in the early parts of the first period when a powerplay goal was cashed in by Matt Smoliga on assists from Mitch McGinn and Hunter Wilson to give the Leopards a 3-2 lead. WNE would capitalize on a powerplay chance of their own to again even the score when Sam Mitchell would pot a rebound chance in front of the goal on assists from John D'Aniello and Matt Dougherty to put the third WNE goal on the board. 

From there, Wentworth would take control of the game after a five-minute major penalty was assessed to WNE's Finn Bambery to give the Leopards plenty of chances on goal. Wentworth's Travis Marchant would get the scoring started to re-take the lead for the Leopards, followed up by a goal from Hunter Wilson, also on the powerplay to give Wentworth their third goal of the period and fifth of the game to go ahead 5-3 after 40 minutes of play. The Leopards took the shots advantage in the second period, 19-13. 

The Leopards continued to pour it on the Golden Bears, scoring two more goals on the major penalty to take a 7-3 lead just 2:04 into the third period. Logan Palmer would make his season debut for WNE, making ten total saves while surrendering just one goal on the night. The lead would be too substantial for WNE to climb back from in the contest. Matt Dougherty would grab a goal with 2:28 to play in the game on assists from Sam Mitchell and Jordan Giacomin, though it would be too late as Western New England would fall 7-4 to the Leopards on Friday night. 

Inside the Pipes:

• After taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Kyle Knight, Western New England would never regain the lead in the contest. Knight, John D'Aniello, Sam Mitchell and Matt Dougherty would find the back of the net on the night for WNE.
• Colten Lancaster made 24 saves on 29 shots faced before being replaced by Logan Palmer, who made 10 saves on 11 shots faced. 
• Wentworth would bury WNE on the powerplay, scoring four goals on six attempts. WNE would convert twice on five attempts. 
• Wentworth would finish the night with 41 shots on goal with WNE coming away with 33. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Both teams will meet tomorrow, Saturday, January 21 at 3:00 pm to end the weekend series.