WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Sophomore Steve Beck's (Milton, N.Y.) power-play goal with just one second remaining in the second period snapped a 2-all tie as the Western New England hockey team edged Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-2, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game played Saturday afternoon at the Olympia Ice Center.
The Golden Bears snap a two-game losing and three-game winless streak (0-2-1) while improving to 2-4-1 overall and 2-3-1 in league play. The Leopards see their record fall to 1-7-0 overall (1-5-0 CCC) after dropping their third straight setback.
Western New England wasted little time getting on the board as sophomore David Kleyman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked up his first goal of the season off an assist from classmate Stefan Koproske (Simsbury, Conn.) at the 1:59 mark. Nearly five minutes later the hosts increased their lead to 2-0 when freshman Andrew Green (Plainview, N.Y.) scored from sophomore Carlos Ross (Brockport, N.Y.) and sophomore Connor Graham (Norfolk, Mass.). Shots were even at 11 apiece through the first period and both teams successfully killed off two shorthanded situations.
Just 44 seconds into the second frame, Wentworth got on the board when freshman Dakoda Menslage (Orleans, Mass.) scored from sophomore Matthew Kennedy (Mount Pearl, N.L.). The game stayed at 2-1 until the 14:05 mark when sophomore Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) netted his third of the season with a shot from the point. However, with time winding down in the period and Western New England on a power play, Beck, who was set up by sophomores Edmund Rogers (Creve Coeur, Mo.) and Joe Mazza (East Longmeadow, Mass.), broke through the Leopard defense and beat the clock to give the Golden bears a 3-2 edge. Wentworth had a 14-10 shot advantage in the period.
The third period saw the Leopards pepper sophomore Kevin Golmer (Flourtown, Pa.) with 22 shots, including six on a power play, but were unable to get the equalizer.
Golmer made 45 saves in the win while junior Ryan Hubbard (West Bridgewater, Mass.) made 22 saves. Wentworth had a 47-25 shot advantage.
The Leopards are at New England College on Saturday, November 26.
