SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior Jake Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and sophomore Eric Andersson (Madison, N.J.) each scored a goal and an assist while freshman Sean Brennan (Stony Point, N.Y.) assisted on three goals as the Wentworth Institute of Technology hockey team defeated Western New England, 5-2, in an ECAC Northeast contest played at Smead Arena.
The win snapped a 14-game (0-12-2) winless streak for the Leopards who last won on November 7, a 3-0 win over Western New England. The 14-game winless streak was Wentworth's longest since a 50-game losing streak from December 4, 1993-January 15, 1997.
Wentworth improves to 4-13-2 overall and 3-6-1 in league play while the Golden Bears fall to 1-14-3 (0-8-1).
Flynn got the Black & gold on the board when he scored his fifth of the season which was set up by Andersson and Brennan at 14:19 of the first. Western New England evened the score with a power-play goal from freshman David Kleyman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), which was set up by senior Chris Lembo (Southington, Conn.) and freshman Brian Hurley (Baldwin, N.Y.) at 16:32. The Leopards had a 15-8 shot advantage after one period.
Western New England took a 2-1 lead at 8:29 of the second when the Golden Bears scored their second power-play goal of the game. Hurley and Lembo set up junior Dane Genord (Grand Blanc, Mich.).
The Leopards tied the game and took the lead in a span of 1:02 late in the period. Freshman Adam Lane (Sarnia, Ont.) scored on a delayed penalty call from classmates Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) and Eric Eustace (Oakville, Ont.) at 18:49. With nine seconds left in the period, Flynn and Brennan set up Andersson for what would stand as the game-winning tally. The Leopards outshot the Golden Bears 15-12 in the second period.
At 9:48 of the third Brennan collected his third assist on the night when he fed senior Mike Cox (Marlborough, Mass.). Western New England pulled senior Austin Keiser (Danwoody, Ga.) for an extra attacker with 1:42 remaining. Sophomore Nick Newman sealed the win as the tallied an empty-net marker with 1:04 left.
Senior Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.) picked up the win making 36 saves for Wentworth. Keiser made 32 saves. Western New England, which outshot the Leopards 18-7 in the third period, had a 38-37 shot advantage for the game.
Wentworth is at Johnson & Wales on Saturday night.
