Johnson & Wales Upsets Wentworth in ECAC Northeast Semifinals

BOSTON, Mass. – The Johnson & Wales University hockey team, the sixth seed in the ECAC Northeast Championship, scored four second period goals, including a pair by freshman Trevor Jewell (Belgrade, Mont.) to post a 5-3 upset victory against No. 1 seed Wentworth in the semifinals of the tournament at Matthews Arena on Wednesday evening.  The win puts the Wildcats in the first ECAC Northeast championship game in school history.

Wentworth took the early 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Martin Winzer (Nuremburg, Germany) at the 11:40 mark.  The host Leopards would take the one goal lead into the locker room after the first 20 minutes of play.

Johnson & Wales responded at the 6:34 mark of the second stanza with a power play goal of their own as sophomore Jeremiah Ketts (Foristell, Mo.) put in a pass from freshman Max Carter (Royal Oak, Mich.) and senior Craig Houle (Burrillville, R.I.).  The Wildcats then took the 2-1 advantage at 10:44 when freshman Jason Pietrasiak (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored with an assist to Houle.  JWU extended their lead to 3-1 at the 13:55 mark of the second period when Jewell notched a goal with assists to senior Kevin Marchesi (South Portland, Maine) and sophomore Kyle Botos (Elyria, Ohio).  Jewell then tallied his second goal of the game at the 18:29 mark, this time with an assist to Ketts to put the squad up 4-1.  Wentworth climbed to within 4-2 on a goal by freshman Shaun Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.).  JWU took the two goal lead into the locker room after two periods of play.

Wentworth continued to chip away at the lead and made the score 4-3 just 2:14 into the third period on a goal from freshman Casey Shade (Anchorage, Alaska).  Johnson & Wales responded, however when Ketts' second goal of the game at the 9:07 mark of the third period put the Wildcats up 5-3.   JWU would then hang on for the two goal victory.

Freshman Matt Cooper (Perrysburg, Ohio) had 24 saves in net for Johnson & Wales while senior Justin Marriott (St. Claire Shores, Mich.) made nine saves in the first two periods and freshman Michael Jarboe (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) made five stops in the third period.

Johnson & Wales is now 12-14-1 with the victory while Wentworth ends its season at 20-5-1.  The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, March 6th when they travel to No. 2 seed Curry for the ECAC Northeast Championship game.  The winner will receive a bid to the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship.