EVERETT, Mass. – Five different players scored goals, including sophomores John McLean (North Andover, Mass.) and Danny Eruzione (Winthrop, Mass.) as the Salve Regina University ice hockey team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 5-2, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Friday night.
With the win, the Seahawks, ranked 14th in the USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll and 15th in the D3hockey.com Men's Poll, improve to 10-4-2 overall and 7-1-1 in CCC play while the Leopards, playing their first home game in six weeks, fall to 5-8-4 (3-5-1).
Salve Regina dominated the opening part of the first period, however, was only able to get one shot by Wentworth freshman goalie Thomas Draper (Binghamton, N.Y.) who made 20 stops in the frame. Junior Eric Lipa (Lockport, N.Y.) provided the offense with a goal assisted by seniors Colin Clapton (Canton, Mass.) and Nick Cyr (Mount Laurel, N.J.). The Seahawks finished the period with a 21-5 shot advantage.
The Seahawks two second period goals both came off of turnovers as McLean made it a 2-0 game with a goal 2:54 into the frame. Senior Kyle Moore (Cumming, Ga.) put the visitors ahead 3-0 when he scored a shorthanded tally at 13:50. On the same special teams situation, the Leopards finally got on the board when freshman Jake McKenelley (Middleton, Mass.) scored the first of his two goals in the game when he netted a power-play tally from senior Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) and sophomore Jake Hallisey (Quincy, Mass.).
McKenelley brought the Leopards to within a goal at the 6:08 mark of the third period when he scored a shorthanded goal, which was assisted by senior Jonny Spada (Glen Rock, N.J.). A power-play goal from sophomore Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point, Calif.), which was set up by Eruzione and freshman Matthew Dillon (Grafton, Mass.), gave Salve Regina a 4-2 lead at 8:11 of the third period before Eruzione scored from Cyr and McLean to round out the scoring at 11:48.
Senior Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.) made 26 saves to pick up the win while Draper turned aside a career-high 44 shots in the loss. Salve Regina had a 49-28 shot advantage.
The two teams will complete their weekend series on Saturday in Middletown, R.I., beginning at 4:05 p.m. (please note time change due to the impending snowstorm)
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