MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Behind 40 saves from junior netminder Glenn Stowell (Hadley, Mass.) and a pair of goals from sophomore Nik Tasiopoulos (Norwell, Mass.), Wesleyan University earned a 4-1 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in men's ice hockey action Saturday afternoon. The game was the second of a double-header as part of a four-team event that also includes Trinity College and Assumption College; two more games will be played Sunday at Trinity. With the win, Wesleyan improved to 3-1 for the first time since the 2003-04 season, while Wentworth falls to 3-3-1.
A four-goal outburst in the second period accounted for all of Wesleyan's offense. Sophomore Tommy Hartnett (Bronxville, N.Y.) got things started 2:38 into the period, scoring on a slap shot through the five-hole following a Wentworth giveaway. The goal was Hartnett's second of the year. Junior John Guay (North Scituate, R.I.) made it 2-0 at 7:56, knocking in a rebound for his third goal.
Tasiopoulos made it a 3-0 game at 9:30, putting home a rebound following a shot by Guay with Wesleyan on the power play. He added another power-play marker at 18:20, sending a low wrister from the right circle to the glove side of Wentworth junior goaltender Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park, Mich.). Tasiopoulos leads Wesleyan with five goals and eight points this season. Senior Geoff Mucha (West Chester, Pa.) received assists on both of Tasiopoulos's tallies.
Wentworth spoiled Stowell's bid for his first career shutout at the 12:27 mark of the third. With the Leopards on the power play, Stowell stopped an initial shot by freshman Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.), but junior Craig Cardone (Westford, Mass.) fired home the rebound for his first goal of the year.
Jarboe finished with 33 saves in the Wentworth net. Stowell's 40-save game was third of his career, as he had 40 against Lebanon Valley College in 2009-10 and a career-high 42 against St. Anselm College in 2010-11. 17 of Stowell's saves came in the third period as the Leopards held an 18-10 edge in shots in the frame.
Despite 14 combined power-play chances, the teams combined for only three man-up goals as Wesleyan killed seven of eight penalties while Wentworth killed four of six.
Both teams return to action on Sunday at Trinity as Wesleyan takes on Assumption at 1 p.m., followed by Wentworth-Trinity at 4 p.m.
(Release Courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Information)
