Hockey Tripped up in Overtime by Western New England

EVERETT, Mass. – Freshman Sam Mitchell (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored with 2:02 remaining in overtime to lift the Western New England University ice hockey team to a 4-3 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell's goal capped off a Golden Bear comeback that saw the visitors tie the game late in regulation before netting the game winner in extra time.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  WNE: (2-2-0, 1-2-0 CCC); WIT (1-3-1, 0-2-1 CCC)
SHOTS:  WNE: 34; WIT:           29
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  WNE:  2/4; WIT:  5/10
POWER PLAYS:  WNE:  1-5; WIT:  0-2
GOALIE SAVES:  WNE – Colten Lancaster, 26; WIT – Will Oliver, 30

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A back-and-forth first period yielded scoring chances for both teams, however, neither would find the back of the net. Western New England had three power plays in the opening frame, scoring on the third extra-man opportunity. Junior John D'Aniello (Toms River, N.J.) and senior Liam Christiano (Trumbull, Conn.) set up sophomore Kyle Knight (Mantua, N.J.) who put home a shot from in front with just 16 seconds left in the period. Western New England had a 10-8 shot advantage through the first 20 minutes.
• Christiano put the visitors ahead, 2-0, when he scored at the 5:34 mark of the second period. Christiano went in on a 2-on-1 after being set up by sophomore Shane Miller (Succasumma, N.J.) and D'Aniello on a breakout.
• Wentworth got on the board at the 16:46 mark of the period when freshman Sean Brown (Seabrook, N.H.) tallied his first collegiate marker, set up by junior Guillame Bose (San Jose, Calif.) and junior Kevin Obssuth (Chester, N.J.). With 21 seconds left in the period, the Leopards tied the game as Brown and freshman Will O'Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) played give-and-go on a breakaway with Brown scoring his second in a span of just under three minutes. Wentworth had a 14-6 shot advantage in the second period.
• At the 2:11 mark of the third period, the Black & Gold took a 3-2 lead on a goal from sophomore Josh Faussett (Okemos, Mich.), which was assisted by senior Jake McKenelley (Middletown, Mass.)
• The Golden Bears had a 15-4 shot advantage in the third period but sophomore Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) kept the tying goal off the board for the majority of the period. With 1:45 left in the period, however, junior Colten Lancaster (Kelowna, B.C.) was pulled for an extra attacker and the move paid off as Western New England tied the game with 1:01 left. Miller and D'Aniello set up Knight for his second of the contest. The visitors put two more shots on goal late in the contest with Oliver making two saves.
• Lancaster made three saves in overtime, including a diving stop on a bid from freshman Chris Tamer (Whitmore Lakes, Mich.) early on. Wentworth maintained possession in the Western New England zone and sophomore Thomas Hernandez (Ajax, Ont.) had a shot attempt blocked by junior Jordan Giacomin (Richmond Hill, Ont.). Lancaster gained control of the puck and sent it to Mitchell in the defensive zone. Mitchell went down the left side and beat Oliver for the game winner.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the 40th all-time meeting between the two teams. Picking up its first series win since February 21, 2017, Western New England snapped a two-game losing and seven-game winless streak in the series. Wentworth still leads, 31-8-1.

NEXT UP:

• The two teams are back at it tomorrow in West Springfield, Mass., for the back end of their home-and-home series. Faceoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

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