Late Goal Lifts Leopards to First Win of Season

(Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information)

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Junior forward Casey Shade (Anchorage, Alaska) scored a pair of goals, including tallying the game-winning marker with 4:33 remaining in regulation to lift Wentworth to a 3-2 win over Assumption in the opening round of the 2010 IC Federal Credit Union Shootout, hosted by Fitchburg State.

With the victory, Wentworth (1-1-1) snaps a three-game winless streak, dating back to last season, and advances onto tomorrow's championship round (4 p.m.) to face the winner of tonight's contest between host, Fitchburg State University and Franklin Pierce University at 8 p.m. Assumption (2-2-0) will battle in the consolation round tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Wentworth controlled the first period of action, notching a 15-8 shot margin and 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard. Sophomore Anthony Principato (Holmdel, N.J.) opened the scoring for the Leopards with his second marker of the season at the 6:32 mark, assisted by sophomore forward Mike Marrocco (Braintree, Mass.) and junior forward Skylur Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.) before Shade connected on a Skylur Jameson and sophomore Shaun Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.) assist at 12:22 for his first of two goals for the game.

In the second period, Assumption rebounded, knotting the score at 2-2 with pair of goals in the frame. Junior Taylor Larsen (Blackstone, Mass.) broke the Ice Dog scoring silence with a tally in the sixth minute of the period, using helpers from Sean Doherty (Walpole, Mass.) and Kevin Glanzman (Massapequa, N.Y.). In the closing minute, Assumption struck again as freshman Ross White (Uxbridge, Mass.) deposited a Patrick Fitzgibbons (Worcester, Mass.) feed for his first collegiate goal.  After being outshot 15-8 in the first period, the Ice Dogs held a 17-9 shot advantage in the middle stanza.

Over the final frame, play continued to heat up with both teams battling between the blue lines. Wentworth took the upper leg of the frame, posting ten shots on target and registering the game-winning marker. As an Assumption power play expired at the 15:17 mark, Shade connected for his second score of the contest, using a behind the net feed from Forrest Ellis (Pembroke, N.H.) for a top-shelf marker. The goal came at 15:27 of the period and held strong for the Leopards first victory of the season.

Between the pipes, sophomore Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) earned the victory for Wentworth, posting a 28-save effort. Jarobe stood strong in the crease, posting two perfect periods for his first win of the year. Assumption net minder, Nick Blanchette (Stuart, Fla.) was just as solid for the Ice Dogs, collecting 30 saves over 59:48 seconds of work.