MILTON, Mass. – Three different players tallied goals and freshman Eric Eustace (Oakville, Ont.) added a pair of assists as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team opened ECACECAC Northeast play with a 3-1 win over Curry in a contest played at the Max Ulin Rink Thursday night.
With the win the Leopards improve to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Colonels drop to 0-3 (0-1).
Curry had an 11-9 shot advantage in the opening frame, however it was the visitors who would hold a 2-0 lead. At 4:40, freshman Adam Lane (Sarnia, Ont.) picked up his first collegiate goal, which was assisted by classmates Byron Carlisle (Orleans, Mass.) and Eustace. In the late stages of the first period Wentworth was on the power play and would convert with 50 seconds left as sophomore Erik Andersson (Madison, N.J.).
Senior Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.) made 18 saves in the second period as the Colonels outshot the Leopards by an 18-13 margin. Both teams had chances to scores, however neither would in the middle frame as the Black & Gold carried a two-goal lead into the third period.
At 6:46 of the third period Curry cut the lead to 2-1 when Junior Mike Vallescuro (Woodbridge, Ont.) found junior Tyler Vankleef (Dundas, Ont.), who beat Miller.
The two teams battled through the period and the Colonels pulled junior Brett Sinclair (St. Catharines, Ont.) for an extra attacker with 39 seconds left and a faceoff in the Wentworth defensive zone. Curry won the draw, however freshman Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) intercepted the pass and fed Lane. Lane carried the puck into the zone and found sophomore Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.), who sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Miller made 35 saves to pick up the win while Sinclair made 30 saves in the loss. Curry had a 36-33 shot advantage.
Both teams host conference games on Saturday with Wentworth hosting Western New England and Curry hosting Johnson & Wales.
