PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – The Salve Regina University ice hockey team broke a scoreless tie with five goals in the second period as the Seahawks defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 7-1, in ECAC Northeast action.
Salve Regina won for just the second time in the all-time series, capturing its first win in the last 20 meetings as the Leopards had been 18-0-1 during that stretch and lead the all-time series, 24-2-1. The Seahawks last defeated the Leopards on January 23, 2002.
With the win the Seahawks improve to 1-1-2 overall and 1-1 in ECAC Northeast play while the Leopards suffer their first setback of the season, falling to 3-1-0 (1-1).
After a scoreless first period that saw Salve Regina hold a 14-5 shot advantage, the Seahawks broke the stalemate with a goal from Matthew Carroll just 1:20 into the second period. Peter Gintoli had the first of his two goals in the period at 5:04, which would hold up as the game winner. Cameron Gaudet scored at 6:15 of the frame to make it a 3-0 game before Gintoli scored 30 seconds later. The Seahawks made it a 5-0 game with a goal from Alex Pompeo with 8:05 left in the period.
Salve Regina tacked on a pair of goals in the third period with Lucas Sousa and James Malone scoring empty-net markers for the hosts at 10:29 and 17:18, respectively, before Wentworth freshman Nick Newman (Saugus, Calif.) ended the shutout bid with 27 seconds left in the game off a feed from senior Curtis Heinz (Grand Rapids, Mich.).
Senior Alex Peck (Kirkland, Que.) made 16 saves over the first 26:15. Junior Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.) made 21 saves. Salve Regina netminder Jake Williams made 25 stops for the Seahawks. The Seahawks held a 44-26 shot advantage.
Wentworth hosts defending league champion Nichols Saturday afternoon while Salve Regina is at Becker Saturday night.