Hockey Rallies to Tie Johnson & Wales

EVERETT, Mass. – Nikolas Sombrowski's goal with 5:29 left in regulation evened the score at 2-all as Wentworth Institute of Technology and Johnson & Wales tied in Conference of New England ice hockey action Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats pick up an extra point in the standings with a 1-0 win in the shootout.

The Leopards are 6-12-2 overall and 4-10-1 in CNE play while the Wildcats are 5-14-2 (4-11-1).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth wasted little time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead just 1:52 into the contest. Ethan Lim dumped a pass in where Shea Thibeault took a shot that went wide of the mark. Nolan Lowe collected the rebound and put it home for his fourth of the season.
• At the 5:33 mark, however, Johnson & Wales tied the score as Evan Gravel fed Jack Lamothe just in front of the far post for his first goal of the season. Wentworth had a 16-12 shot advantage in the opening period.
• Both teams had chances to take the lead in the second period, however, neither would find the back of the net, keeping the game scoreless after 40:00 of action.
• The Leopards controlled play early in the third period, however, a costly turnover in front gave Johnson & Wales a 2-1 lead as Cullen Hennessy stripped the puck from a Wentworth defensemen and beat McGovern to the near side at 6:01. Just over three minutes later, a penalty on the Leopards put the Wildcats on a man advantage, where they had a pair of shots on goal that were saved by Jack McGovern.
• Sombrowski's game-tying goal, his fourth marker of the season, came after Nick Cullinan sent a pass from the far corner to Jesse Chamberlain. Chamberlain took a shot that was saved by Jake Inzirillo and Sombrowski cleaned up the rebound.
• Late in the third period, Cullinan nearly put the hosts on top, however, his shot was saved by Inzirillo.
• The Wildcats had a chance early as they put one of their four extra period shots on net that McGovern Saved. Dane Probe and Desmond Johnson each had a chance for the Black & Gold with Inzirillo saving both shots and sending the game into a shootout.
• In the shootout round, Xavier Vaillancourt had his shot saved before Brett Beale gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. George Kolovos and Roman Wainwright each had their bids, with McGovern tipping away Wainwright's bid at the last second. Inzirillo came up with a save on Lowe's attempt to clinch the shootout win.
• McGovern made 35 saves.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the 41st all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth leads, 28-9-4.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at the University of New England Friday night.

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