EVERETT, Mass. – Freshman Erik Andersson's (Madison, N.J.) eighth goal of the season, coming with 4:45 remaining in regulation, snapped a 1-all tie and lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team to a 2-1 win over Suffolk in an ECAC Northeast clash played at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink Sunday evening.
With the win the Leopards finish the regular season with an 11-11-3 (6-6-2) record and clinch a berth in the upcoming ECAC Northeast Tournament, which begins Saturday. Wentworth will either be the number four or number five seed depending on the outcome of the Curry/Becker contest which is scheduled for Monday afternoon. The Rams fall to 10-12-2 (4-7-2) and conclude the regular season against Western New England on Tuesday, needing a win to earn the sixth and final playoff berth.
A scoreless first period saw Suffolk have a pair of power-play attempts, however would only manage to get one shot off during the extra-man advantages. The Rams held a slim, 8-7 shot advantage through the first 20:00.
Wentworth had the advantage in the early part of the second period, however were unable to put the puck past junior Brandon Smolarek (Chesterfield, Mich.). Suffolk would break the stalemate at the 15:50 mark when junior Mike Cherpak (Enfield, Conn.) netted a power play tally from sophomore Daryll Medvedev (Boston, Mass.). The goal came shortly after the Rams successfully killed off a 5x3 shorthanded situation.
Just 31 seconds later the Leopards evened the game at a goal apiece when senior Ben Iwanowski (Dorval, Que.) sent a pass in to freshman Elliot Tisdale (Valencia, Pa.) who slipped a shot past Smolarek. Just over two minutes later the Black & Gold had a chance to take a 2-1 lead, however senior Mike Domsodi (Kirkland, Que.) fired a shot from the point that rattled off the near post. The Leopards would have a second 5x3 advantage which would carry into the third period but could not convert.
Nearly 24 hours after skating to a 5-5 tie, the two teams appeared to be headed for another draw as both teams had chances in the third period, including when sophomore Kyle LeBrun (Bridgewater, Mass.) had a pair of shots off a breakaway that Smolarek stopped. His counterpart, junior Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.) also made several key stops in the early going. However, Andersson would break the tie when Domsodi sent a pass into the zone and Andersson snuck a shot past Smolarek to the right side.
Smolarek was pulled for an extra attacker with 53 seconds left, but the Rams could only manage one shot which went wide.
Miller made 23 saves, including nine in the second period, while Smolarek stopped 26 shots, including 13 in the second period. Wentworth held a 28-24 shot advantage for the game.
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
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Suffolk............. 0 1 0 - 1
Wentworth........... 0 1 1 - 2
1st period (No Scoring) - Penalties - Ryan Sullivan, WIT (holding) 1:56; Kevin Crowe, WIT (interference) 15:21.
2nd period - 1, SUFFOLK, Mike Cherpak/4 (Danyil Medvedev/8) 15:50 (pp). 2, WIT, Elliot Tisdale/2 (Ben Iwanowski/8) 16:21. Penalties - Sean McLaughlin, WIT (boarding) 2:07; Stanton Turner, SUFFOLK (slashing) 11:04; Tim Sprague, SUFFOLK (interference) 12:38; Joe Mottiqua, WIT (slashing) 15:01; Tyler Murray, SUFFOLK (tripping) 18:09; Tyler Heineman, SUFFOLK (holding) 19:48.
3rd period - 3, WIT, Erik Andersson/8 (Mike Domsodi/13) 15:15. Penalties - Stanton Turner, SUFFOLK (tripping) 8:42; Cam McLennan, WIT (slashing) 12:15.
Shots on goal - SUFFOLK 8-10-6 24; WIT 7-14-7 28.
Power plays - SUFFOLK 1 of 5; WIT 0 of 5.
Penalties - SUFFOLK 5 (10 min); WIT 5 (10 min).
Goalies - SUFFOLK, Brandon Smolarek 9-11-2 (59:07 minutes, 28 shots-26 saves), EMPTY NET (00:53, 0-0); WIT, Joel Miller 6-7-2 (59:49, 24-23), EMPTY NET (00:11, 0-0).
