Leopards Open Season With 1-1 Tie Against Becker

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward Brian Murray's (Manalapan, N.J.) goal 27 seconds after Wentworth had taken a 1-0 lead early in the third period knotted the game at 1-all as Wentworth and Becker skated to a 1-1 tie in the season opener for both teams at Matthews Arena.

The host Leopards held an 11-6 shot advantage and would hit a post, but Hawk junior Jake Rosenthal (Wantagh, N.Y.) came up with some key saves to keep it a scoreless game after 20:00.

Murray had a chance to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead midway through the second stanza, but Leopard sophomore Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) came up with a huge save on a shorthanded breakaway bid.  Becker outshot Wentworth in the second period, 10-6.

Sophomore defenseman Shaun Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.) gave Wentworth a 1-0 lead at the 0:22 mark of the third period when he fired a shot from the right circle that beat Rosenthal to the right side.  Sophomore Anthony Principato (Holmdel, N.J.) and freshman Corey Lillie (East Hampton, N.Y.) picked up assists on Jameson's marker.

On the ensuing faceoff, Becker gained possession and Murray would rifle a shot off the left post.  The rebound bounced out to sophomore defenseman James Gordon (Belchertown, Mass.), who fed a pass to freshman forward Dan Kane (Worcester, Mass.).  Kane slipped a low pass to Murray, whose one-time beat Jarboe and evened the score.

Both teams had chances to take a 2-1 lead, but both goalies came up with stops to send the game to an extra period.  Wentworth held a 14-10 shot advantage in the third period.

The extra session saw Wentworth outshoot Becker, 4-3, but neither team was able to break the stalemate.  For the game the Leopards held a 35-29 shot advantage.

Jarboe made 28 saves for the 0-0-1 (0-0-1 ECAC Northeast) Leopards, who are at Salem State on Friday night.  Rosenthal turned aside 34 shots for the 0-0-1 (0-0-1) Hawks, who host Stonehill in the Becker Ice Breaker Tournament Friday evening.

 Goals by Period       1  2  3 OT  Tot

 -------------------------------------

 Becker..............  0  0  1  0 -  1

 Wentworth...........  0  0  1  0 -  1

1st period - (no scoring) Penalties - Korby Anderson, BECM (cross-checking) 1:09; Dylan Barbieri, WIT (interference) 4:51; Ron Paiva, BECM (hooking) 11:34; Ron Paiva, BECM (hitting after whistle) 17:16; Luke Heller, WIT (cross-checking) 17:16; Dylan Barbieri, WIT (high sticking) 19:43.

2nd period - (no scoring) Penalties - James Gordon, BECM (cross-checking) 2:10; Ron Paiva, BECM (tripping) 9:45; Fred Gervasi, WIT (interference) 12:54.

3rd period - 1, WIT, Shaun Jameson/1 (Anthony Principato/1, Cory Lillie/1) 0:22. 2, BECM, Brian Murray/1 (Dan Kane/1, James Gordon/1) 0:49. Penalties – (none)

OT period – (no scoring) Penalties – (none)

Shots on goal - BECM 6-10-10-3 29; WIT 11-6-14-4 35.

Power plays - BECM 0 of 3; WIT 0 of 4.

Penalties - BECM 5 (10 min); WIT 4 (8 min).

Goalies - BECM, Jake Rosenthal (65:00 minutes, 35 shots-34 saves); WIT, Mike Jarboe (64:56, 29-28) , EMPTY NET (00:04, 0-0).