EVERETT, Mass. – Freshman Ryan Cusin (Detroit, Mich.) netted a pair of goals, including the eventual game winner early in the third period as the University of Massachusetts Boston ice hockey team used a three-goal third period to take a 4-1 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a non-league game played at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink.
With the win the Beacons, ranked 13th in the latest USCHO.com Division III Poll and 14th in the latest D3Hockey.com Men's Poll, improve to 6-3-2 while the Leopards fall to 2-10-0 on the season.
Cusin gave UMass Boston a 1-0 lead at the 8:54 mark of the opening period, which was set up by senior Tyler Bishop (Ramsey, N.J.) while on the power play.
The Beacons had a 15-4 shot advantage in the second period, however Leopard freshman netminder Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) made several big saves to keep it a one-goal contest. Nine of UMass Boston's 15 shots in the frame came on three power play attempts.
Freshman Dominic Blad (Springfield, Mass.) set up junior Connor Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead at 3:25 of the third period. Freshman Nolan Redler (Winchester, Mass.) and sophomore Gabe Chuckran (Media, Pa.) set up Cusin at the 5:56 mark of the period to make it a 3-0 advantage.
Wentworth battled back and cut the deficit to 3-1 with 5:32 remaining. Sophomore Jonny Spada (Glen Rock, Pa.) fed junior Chris Sattler (East Longmeadow, Mass.) who fired a shot from the right side. Freshman Jordan Bustard (Flanders, N.J.) made the initial save, however sophomore Sam Levin (Simsbury, Conn.) put home the rebound.
With 1:33 remaining, Graham was pulled for an extra attacker and the Leopards put a shot on net which was saved by Bustard. However, Wentworth couldn't keep the puck in the offensive zone and with 45 seconds left, senior Zach Lindsay (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) chipped the put out of the zone to senior Albee Daley (Averill Park, N.Y.) who scored on the empty net to seal the win.
Bustard made 27 saves to pick up the win while Graham stopped 39 shots. The Beacons had a 43-28 shot advantage on the night.
Wentworth is idle until it hosts Stonehill on Tuesday, January 10.
