LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Sean McLaughlin's (North Billerica, Mass.) goal with 7:12 left in regulation lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology hockey team over visiting Johnson& Wales 3-2 at the Tsongas Arena in ECAC Northeast play.
With the win the Leopards, winners of four straight, improve to 8-10-2 overall and 6-3 in the ECACNE, while the Wildcats fall to 15-5 overall and 5-4 in league play.
After a scoreless opening period where Johnson & Wales outshot Wentworth 8-5, the Wildcats' Stefan Brucato (Lake Elisore, Calif.) lit the lamp less than a minute into the second period. Forward Josh Obregon (Omaha, Neb.) who was behind the net, fed a cutting Brucato who spun and backhanded a shot to beat Alex Peck (Kirkland, Que.) and make the score 1-0.
Just under two minutes later, Andrew Yarber (Livonia, Mich.) punched in a pass from defenseman Curtis Heinz (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and tied the game at 1-1 with 17:33 left in the second period. Heinz sent the puck into traffic, right in front of the net and Yarber finished.
The Wildcats responded quickly by taking advantage of a Wentworth turnover in their own zone. Obregon stole a pass near the blue line and drove to the net, beating Peck high glove side from the left circle with at 4:17 of the second. The Leopards killed off four penalties in the period and then with just over a minute left in the second period, Jordan Simmonds (Brighton, Mich.) received a pass from Jake Diamond (Lakewood, Colo.), who was at the left circle, and buried a wrist shot to knot the game at 2-all.
In the third period Wentworth outshot Johnson & Wales 12-9 and kill off a pair of penalties. McLaughlin gave the Leopards their first lead of the game with just under eight minutes to play. After a hard push on the forecheck, Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.) forced a turnover in the left corner and fed McLaughlin who was cutting to the middle for what would be the game-winning goal.
Johnson & Wales pulled freshman Joey Ballmer (Kalamazoo, Mich.) with 1:22 left for an extra attacker, however was not able to get the equalizer.
Peck made 31 saves for the Black & Gold, who were outshot by a 33-31 margin and killed off all seven of their shorthanded situations. Ballmer turned aside 27 stops for the Wildcats.
Wentworth hosts Western New England on Sunday at 2:00, while Johnson & Wales hosts Becker on Saturday.
