LOWELL, Mass. – A pair of goals 58 seconds apart in the second period gave the Wentworth Institute of Technology hockey team a 2-0 advantage and the Leopards would hold on for a 2-1 win in an ECAC Northeast contest played at Tsongas Arena.
With the win the Leopards snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Seahawks suffer their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 (1-1).
A scoreless first period saw Salve Regina hold a 9-6 advantage in shots, including having a golden chance while shorthanded, however, sophomore netminder Joel Miller (Spruce Grove, Alta.) made a glove save to keep the game scoreless.
The Leopards got on the board at 6:12 of the middle frame when freshman Robert Mantha (Clarkston, Mich.) scored off a pass from sophomore Stephen McManus (Westwood, Mass.). At 7:10, junior Mike Domsodi (Kirkland, Que.) and sophomore Mike Cox (Marlborough, Mass.) fed senior Andrew Yarber (Livonia, Mich.), who snuck a shot inside the left post to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
Salve Regina responded at 10:15 when freshmen Jonathan Felteau (Peabody, Mass.) and Justin Jones (Dallas, Texas) fed classmate Parker Bowen (Pembroke, Mass.) on the power play to cut the lead in half. The Seahawks held a 12-10 shot advantage in the middle stanza.
While the third period was scoreless, both teams had chances, however Miller and junior Jake Williams (Montreal, Que.) made several key stops to keep it a 2-1 game. Salve Regina pulled Williams twice, late in the period – once on a delayed penalty call and the other over the final 1:37, including the final nine seconds of a power play, however Wentworth held on for the win.
Miller made 29 saves while Williams turned aside 20 shots. Salve Regina held a 30-22 shot advantage.
Both teams are in action on Saturday as Wentworth travels to Nichols and the Seahawks host Becker.
