MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshman Brendan Lloyd (Merrick, N.Y.) netted a pair of goals, including what held up as the game winner with 5:57 remaining in the second period as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team held on to defeat Saint Anselm, 3-2, in non-conference action at Sullivan Arena.
With the win the Leopards snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 5-8-3 while the Hawks fall to 5-7-1. The five wins for Wentworth match the total number of wins for the black & Gold from a season ago.
After a scoreless first period which saw Wentworth hold a slim, 8-7 advantage, the Leopards scored twice in a span of 38 seconds to jump out to a 2-0 lead. At the 1:09 mark, freshman Dante Flori (Waltham, Mass.) scored his first collegiate marker, which came on the power play, with the help of freshman Nate Chase (Plainfield, Ill.) and sophomore CJ Grinnell (Burlington, Mass.). Chase notched his second assist of the day on Lloyd's first career goal which came at 1:47. Sophomore Connor Beaudet (Buffalo, N.Y.) also picked up a helper on the goal.
Saint Anselm cut into the lead at the 13:07 mark as sophomore Liam O'Sullivan (North Hampton, N.H.) scored from junior Brian Cameron (Wakefield, Mass.) and junior Jeremy Carignan (Amos, Que.). However, exactly one minute later, Lloyd made it a two-goal game when he scored from junior Paul Filippone, III (Cranston, R.I.) and Beaudet.
With 4:57 remaining, the Hawks cut back into the lead when sophomore Mike Ferraro (Northbridge, Mass.) set up senior Jon Pallotta (Leominster, Mass.) to make it 3-2. Saint Anselm had three scoring chances, however, all were saved by senior Ryan Hubbard (West Roxbury, Mass.). With 2:05 remaining, the hosts went on the power play but only managed one shot, which was denied by Hubbard.
Hubbard made 30 saves to pick up the win while senior Shane Joyce (Pembroke, Mass.) turned aside 23 shots. Saint Anselm had a 32-26 shot advantage.
Wentworth hosts Fitchburg State on Saturday at Allied Veterans Rink.
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