Hockey Opens CNE Play with Win at Western New England

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Four different student-athletes tallied goals, including Xavier Vaillancourt who also added an assist as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team opened Conference of New England play with a 4-1 win over Western New England.

With the win the Leopards improve to 1-1-1 on the season, while the Golden Bears fall to 0-2-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Vaillancourt got his name on the scoresheet at the 8:33 mark of the opening period when he and Nichols Ramm set up Desmond Johnson for his second marker of the season. The Leopards continued to apply pressure and eventually broke through at the 16:36 mark when Vaillancourt notched his second goal of the season off a feed from Hunter Wilson. Wentworth had an 18-5 shot advantage through the first 20 minutes of action.
• The Black & Gold continued to create scoring chances, however, Nikita Volsky kept the Leopards in check and kept the hosts with reach with a two-goal deficit.
• At the 13:34 mark of the middle period, Wentworth was whistled for a penalty, putting Western New England on the power play. However, 59 seconds later, Nikolas Sombrowski capitalized on a turnover and gave the Leopards a 3-0 lead with his first of the season.
• Wentworth kept the Golden Bears off the scoreboard until a power-play goal from Philippe Longchamps with 2:35 left.
• Cade Penney rounded out the scoring when he notched his first of the season, coming on the power play, assisted by Shea Thibault and Dane Probe.
• Jack McGovern made 24 saves on the night as Wentworth had a 39-25 shot advantage.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight was the 51st all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth is 38-11-2 all-time vs the Golden Bears.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Suffolk tomorrow.

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