GORHAM, Maine – The Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team scored twice in a span of 2:37 in the second period and sophomore Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) made 29 saves, including 23 over the final two periods, as the Leopards held on to defeat Southern Maine, 2-1, at the USM Ice Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Wentworth snapped a three-game (0-2-1) winless skid with the win and improves to 3-6-1 on the season while the Huskies fall to 1-7-1.
After a scoreless first period which saw the Leopards hold a 10-6 shot advantage, the visitors did all their scoring in the second period. Senior Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) gave the Black & Gold a 1-0 lead on a tally which was assisted by sophomore Connor Beaudet (Buffalo, N.Y.) at 7:07. Sophomore Nate Chase (Plainfield, Ill.) upped the lead to 2-0 at 9:44 when he took a feed from junior Tim Shea, Jr. (Ferrisburgh, Vt.) and put a shot inside the right post.
Graham kept the Huskies off the scoreboard for most of the third period before junior Tyler Mathieu (Stillwater Lake, N.S.) put home a long rebound of a sophomore Cody Braga (Middleboro, Mass.) shot. Freshman Anthony D'Aloisio (Frisco, Texas) was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:50 remaining, however, Southern Maine was unable to get the equalizer.
With his 29-save performance, Graham picks up his first win of the season. D'Aloisio turned aside 23 shots as the Huskies had a 30-25 shot advantage for the game, including 12-6 in the third period.
Wentworth resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Friday night as the Leopards begin a home-and-home series with Salve Regina.
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