PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – Sophomore Paul Filippone's (Cranston, R.I.) goal midway through the second period stood as the game winner as the Wentworth Institute of Technology hockey team held on for a 3-2 victory over 14th-ranked Salve Regina in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest at the Portsmouth Abbey Rink.
The Leopards posted their first victory over a ranked opponent since defeating Middlebury, 3-2, on Dec. 31, 2012, and improve to 2-8-0 overall (2-5-0 CCC) after snapping a four-game losing streak. The Seahawks, who are ranked 14th in the USCHO.com Division III Poll and are also receiving votes in the D3Hockey.com Poll, had their six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) snapped, falling to 6-2-1 (5-1-1).
The teams battled through a scoreless first period with plenty of chances, however freshman Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) and sophomore Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.) kept their foes off the board, making 12 and 11 saves in the period, respectively.
Wentworth broke the ice just 1:49 into the second period when freshman CJ Grinnell (Burlington, Mass.) scored his first career gal, which was set up by sophomore Adam Lane (Sarnia, Ont.) and came off of a turnover.
At 9:16 of the period, the Leopards doubled their lead on a junior Kyle LeBrun (Bridgewater, Mass.) goal, which was assisted by Filippone and sophomore Jonny Spada (Glen Rock, N.J.). Less than two minutes later, Filippone gave the Black & Gold a 3-0 lead as he was set up for a point-blank shot by freshmen Adam Tracey (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) and Garrett Geane (Fullerton, Calif.).
Salve Regina made it a 3-1 game at the 13:34 mark of the period when freshman Jack Billings (Oak Lawn, Ill.) scored from junior Pat Thompson (Hellertown, Pa.). Wentworth had a 14-9 shot advantage in the second period.
The game remained 3-1 until the 15:38 mark of the third period when junior Brandon Yee (Franklin, Mass.) scored from sophomore Kyle Moore (Cumming, Ga.) and sophomore Cameron Russo (Billerica, Mass.). Salve Regina mounted pressure on the Leopards, however Graham made four saves in the final 4:32, including one when sophomore Peter McNamara (Germantown, Md.) was pulled for an extra attacker.
Graham notched his first collegiate victory by making 34 saves. Wojtala took the loss, making 22 saves over the first two periods. McNamara made seven stops in the third period. Salve Regina had a 36-32 advantage on shots on goal while Wentworth blocked 19 shots in the contest.
Both teams close out league play for the first semester on Saturday as Wentworth hosts Becker and Salve Regina is at Johnson & Wales.
