BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman forward Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.) scored with 1:33 left in overtime to lift the Wentworth hockey team to a 3-2 win over visiting Bowdoin in both teams' first contest of the new year.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net through the first 20:00, with the Polar Bears holding a 13-6 shot advantage and having the period's lone power play.
The two teams traded goals in the second period with the visitors getting on the board first when freshman forward John McGinnis (Cocoa, Fla.) tipped in the puck in front of the net. McGinnis was set up on the marker by classmate Donald Chute (Wayzata, Minn.) and senior forward Graham Sisson (Chesterfield, Mo.) at 3:48. Wentworth drew even at 9:20 when junior forward Joel Vastl (North Salem, N.H.) scored from sophomore Fred Gervasi (Mississauga, Ont.) and freshman Mike Domsodi (Kirkland, Que.).
Bowdoin took a 2-1 lead at 18:56 of the period when junior forward Rob McGregor (Collegeville, Pa.) scored on passes from junior forward Robert Toczylowski (Reading, Mass.) and senior forward Aaron O'Callahan (Glencoe, Ill.). The lead would not last long as Leopard senior forward Mike Paglino (Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.) fired a shot from the left circle that found the back of the net with 55.4 ticks left in the period. Sophomore forward Andrew Yarber (Livonia, Mich.) and freshman defenseman Mike Novella (New Haven, Conn.) assisted on the goal.
A tightly contested third period yielded no scoring, however the hosts had a golden opportunity with 35 seconds left when senior forward Skylur Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.) tipped a shot in front of the net that was saved by Polar Bear sophomore goalie Steve Messina (Newton, N.J.).
Wentworth had two chances early in the extra frame when Paglino took a shot that was saved by Messina, who saved the rebound attempt from Crowe as well. Crowe ended the game when he was set up by Yarber and junior defenseman Shaun Jameson (Long Beach, Calif.) and fired a shot to the high right side from the right circle.
Junior Mike Jarboe (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) made 31 saves – including 13 in the first period and 12 in the third period – to pick up the win. Messina made 28 saves, including 11 in the third period. Bowdoin held a 33-30 shot advantage for the game.
With the win Wentworth improves to 7-4-1 and travels to Plymouth State for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday. Bowdoin sees its two-game win streak come to an end, falling to 5-4-1. The Polar Bears host Amherst Friday night.
