Hockey Holds on to Defeat Suffolk; Clinches CCC Tournament Berth

EVERETT, Mass. – Going into the final weekend of play, the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team knew it needed to pick up a pair of wins and get some help in order to secure a Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament berth. After picking up two points in a 2-1, overtime win at Western New England Friday night, the task was to pick up at least two points against Suffolk on Saturday and have Nichols lose to Salve Regina. Junior Charlie Reid's (Marshfield, Mass.) goal at 6:46 of the third period stood as the game winner and freshman Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.) made 31 saves as the Leopards held on to defeat Suffolk, 2-1. This, combined with Nichols' loss to Salve Regina, put the Black & Gold in the CCC Tournament.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  SUF:  6-17-2 (4-16-1 CCC (13 points)); WIT:  6-18-1 (4-16-1 CCC (16 points))
SHOTS:  SUF:  32; WIT:  25
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  SUF:  2/4; WIT:  5/18
POWER PLAYS:  SUF:  0-3; WIT:  0-1
GOALIE SAVES:  Cal Wilcox, 23; WIT:  Jack McGovern:  31

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth had a pair of chances early, however, could not get past senior Cal Wilcox (Pomfret, Conn.). At the other end, McGovern was equally as impressive, turning away 11 Suffolk shots in the first period, a period that was played in its entirety at even strength.
• Both teams had chances to open the second period and Suffolk went on the game's first power play at the 6:57 mark. Despite a pair of shots on goal for the Rams, the game remained scoreless.
• At 13:42, junior Josh Fausett (Okemos, Mich.) put the hosts on the board. Freshman Nick Bosch (Highland Falld, N.Y.) broke up a play in the neutral zone and fed senior Sam Milnes (Middletown, R.I.). Milnes pushed the puck to Fausett, who picked up his fifth marker of the season. The Rams had a second power-play attempt late in the period but could not score.
• Reid gave the Leopards a 2-0 lead when he scored his third of the season at 6:46. Sophomore Sean Brown (Seabrook, N.H.) intercepted a pass and fed Ried, who streaked down the right side and put a shot past Wilcox.
• At the 17:08 mark, Suffolk called its time out and would pull Wilcox for an extra attacker. On the ensuing faceoff, senior Nick Lachaine (Lakeville, Conn.) won the draw and chipped the puck to senior Devin Lowe (Ownings Mills, Md.). Lowe skated across the ice and beat McGivern to the far post, cutting the lead in half.
• The Rams once again pulled Wilcox for an extra attacker shortly after the ensuing faceoff and controlled the puck in the Wentworth zone. With 51 seconds left, the Leopards were whistled for a too many men on the ice penalty, making it a 6-on-4 situation. Wentworth cleared the puck twice but were unable to score on the open net, resulting in icing calls. However, on the second one, Milnes had hit the post and an inadvertent whistle was blown, resulting in a faceoff at center ice with four seconds left. While the Rams won the draw, their were unable to get an attempt off before time expired.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today was the 44th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth snapped a four-game series losing streak and leads, 24-17-3. All three meetings this season were decided by 2-1 scores.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at the University of New England for a CCC First Round game on Wednesday, at a time to be announced.

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