Nor'Easters Pull Away from Hockey

EVERETT, Mass. – The 12th-ranked University of New England ice hockey team outscored Wentworth Institute of Technology, 4-1, in the third period as the Nor'Easters picked up a 6-4 win in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Friday night.

Junior Jared Christy (Costa Mesa, Calif.) put UNE ahead for good with a goal at 15:16 of the final frame. Junior Jake Fuss (Fairfield, Conn.) had a goal and three assists in the win. Three Leopard student-athletes had a goal and assist in the loss, including sophomore Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) who picked up his first two collegiate points.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  UNE:  10-2-1 (9-2-1 CCC); WIT:  4-12-2 (3-10-1 CCC)
SHOTS:  UNE:  37; WIT:  22
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  UNE:  8/27; WIT:  6/20
POWER PLAYS:  UNE:  2-4; WIT:  1-3
GOALIE SAVES:  UNE:  Billy Girard, 18; WIT:  Will Oliver, 31

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) was tested early as UNE applied pressure early. Two of Oliver's saves in the early going were front point-blank range.
• Wentworth had a pair of shot attempts saved by sophomore Billy Girard (Boca Raton, Fla.) before breaking the ice when junior Kevin Obssuth (Chester, N.J.) put home his ninth marker of the season, assisted by junior Guillaume Bose (San Jose, Calif.) and senior Joey O'Leary (Boston, Mass.) at 6:35.
• The Leopards held a one-goal edge until the 11:43 mark when Fuss and senior Austin Morgan (Detroit, Mich.) set up graduate student Chris Jones (Seattle, Wash.) on the power play to make it a 1-1 game. UNE took a 2-1 lead on a goal from freshman Ryan Kuzmich (Norton, Mass.), which was assisted by junior Collin Heinold (Charleston, S.C.) and Fuss. The Nor'Easters had a 17-8 shot advantage in the opening period.
• Wentworth took a 3-1 lead after two period of play with freshman George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.) and Reid providing the offense. Weiner's goal, a power-play goal at 9:19, came when he put home a rebound of a senior Jake McKenelley (Middleton, Mass.) shot. Obssuth also picked up an assist on the goal. Reid tallied the first of his career at 15:23 when he was set up by junior Kasey O'Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) and sophomore Matt Smoliga (Glenville, Ill.). The Leopards outshot the Nor'Easters, 10-5, in the second period.
• UNE wasted little time tying the game up, scoring just 32 seconds into the third period when Fuss and senior Liam Darcy (East Waterboto, Maine) set up Kuzmich for his second of the night. However, at the 4:44 mark, Reid set up McKenelley to give the hosts a 4-3 lead.
• Senior Jimmy Elser (Verbank, N.Y.) put home a rebound of saved shots from junior Chad Merrell (Boca Raton, Fla.) and junior Alex Sheehy (North Salem, N.Y.) to tie the game at 9:54 of the period. Christy put UNE ahead for good with a power-play goal with 4:44 remaining.
• With 2:09 left, the Black & Gold appeared to tie the game, however, it was ruled the puck was batted in by a high stick. Oliver was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:16 left. With 41 seconds left, Fuss completed his four-point night when he scored an empty-net goal after Merrell caused a turnover in the Wentworth zone.
• Girard made 18 saves while Oliver stopped 31 shots. UNE had a 37-22 shot advantage for the game.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 14th all-time meeting between the two teams. UNE has won the last two meetings and leads the all-time series, 11-2-1. The last five meetings have been decided by a total of six goals.

NEXT UP:

• The two teams meet again on Tuesday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m., in Biddeford, Maine in a makeup of the postponed game from January 29.

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