EVERETT, Mass. – Senior Colin Clapton's (Canton, Mass.) goal with 1:30 remaining in regulation forced overtime and neither team found the back of the net in the extra session as Wentworth Institute of Technology and Salve Regina skated to a 2-all tie in Commonwealth Coast Conference hockey action Friday night.
The Leopards stand at 3-6-2 overall and 2-3-2 in league play while Salve Regina is 6-3-1 (5-3-1). This was the second straight game in the series – both played at Wentworth's home rink – which has gone to overtime.
Wentworth struck first in the contest, thanks to a second-chance goal from sophomore Nate Chase (Plainfield, Ill.) at 5:33 of the opening period. Chase scored off a rebounded shot from freshman Dante Flori (Waltham, Mass.), who was sent a pass from junior Tim Shea, Jr. (Ferrisburgh, Vt.). At the 11:51 mark, freshman Danny Eruzione (Winthrop, Mass.) evened the score when he put home a goal to the left side while being tripped up. Eruzione scored off a pass from sophomore Jack Billings (Oak Lawn, Ill.) as Billing cleared the puck from the defensive zone and the two created the scoring opportunity with a give and go.
Junior Matthew Kennedy (Mount Pearl, N.L.) provided the only offense of the second period as his goal from the right side, which was assisted by senior Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) and sophomore Drew DiGeronimo (Fitchburg, Mass.), gave the Leopards a 2-1 lead.
With 1:34 left in regulation, junior Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.) was pulled for an extra attacker, and, just four seconds later, Salve Regina took advantage when Clapton scored from junior Nick Cyr (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and freshman John McLean (North Andover, Mass.) to tie the score at 2-all.
The Seahawks carried momentum into overtime and put four shots on net, however, sophomore Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) came up with four saves. With 40 seconds left in the game, Wentworth nearly won the game, however, junior Ethan Weiss' (Troy, Mich.) shot from the right circle was stopped by Wojtala.
Graham matched a career high with 39 saves, including 15 in the first period, while Wojtala had 20 shots. Salve Regina had a 41-22 shot advantage, which included a 16-7 edge in the opening period.
The teams complete their home-and-home series tomorrow night in Portsmouth, R.I.
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