Hockey Shuts Out Skidmore to Pick up First Win of the Season

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In his collegiate debut, sophomore Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) stopped all 33 shots he faced, while sophomore Josh Faussett (Okemos, Mich.) and junior Kasey O'Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) each scored goals as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team notched its first win of the season with a 2-0 triumph over Skidmore.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  WIT (1-1); SC (0-1)
SHOTS:  WIT 22; SC 33
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  WIT 4-8; SC 6-12
POWER PLAYS:  WIT 1/5; SC 0/3
GOALIE SAVES:  WIT – Will Oliver, 33; SC – Tate Brandon, 20

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth held a 10-8 shot advantage through the first 20 minutes, including putting six shots on net over the course of two power plays. It wasn't until the Leopards last shot of the period that the Black & Gold broke the ice as Faussett scored from sophomore Matt Smoliga (Glenville, Ill.) and junior Kevin Obssuth (Chester, N.J.). In addition to it being Faussett's first collegiate goal, it was Smoliga's first collegiate point, while Obssuth picked up his third assist over the first two games.
• Skidmore went on its first power play of the afternoon at the 8:54 mark of the second period and fired four shots on net but Oliver kept the Thoroughbreds off the board. Shortly after the penalty expired, senior Joey O'Leary (Boston, Mass.) had a chance to put Wentworth ahead 2-0, but his shot was saved by sophomore Tate Brandon (Irvington, N.Y.). Skidmore kept the pressure on, putting four more shots on net before the end of the period, however, the Leopards held their 1-0 lead through 40 minutes.
• Oliver made six straight saves over the first four and a half minutes of the third period as the hosts tried to get the equalizer. A Wentworth penalty gave Skidmore its second power play of the day and the Thoroughbreds put two more shots on net.
• At the 7:38 mark, a minor penalty was called on Skidmore, putting the Black & Gold on the power play for the fourth time. This time the Leopards converted as junior Kasey O'Brien scored from freshmen Sean Brown (Seabrook, N.H.) and George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.). Both Brown and Weiner picked up their first collegiate points on O'Brien's first marker of the season.
• A Skidmore power play at the 13:30 mark gave the hosts three more shot attempts but were unable to capitalize.
• With 4:11 left – just shortly after the power play came to an end – the Thoroughbreds pulled Brandon for an extra attacker and subsequently killed off a Wentworth power play with just under two minutes left. The hosts won three face-offs late and had one last attempt to break up the shutout but Oliver denied the bid.
• Skidmore had a 33-22 shot advantage for the game with Brandon making 20 saves in the loss.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the 16th meeting in the series, however, it was the first series meeting since December 7, 2007. Wentworth has won two meetings in a row but trails 11-5 all-time.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play at Suffolk Friday (November 5) at 7:00 p.m.

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