BOSTON, Mass. – Freshmen Tommy Bishop (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Justin Holliday (Stow, Ohio) each tallied third period goals to pace the Suffolk University hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in an ECAC Northeast matchup at Walter Brown Arena.
With the win the Rams improve to 4-0-2 overall and 3-0-2 in ECAC Northeast play while the Leopards drop their second straight to stand at 3-3-1 (2-2-1).
Neither team would score in the first period, including when Suffolk went on the game's only power play late in the stanza. Wentworth held a 12-10 shot advantage after 20:00 of action.
In the second period the play was back and forth but both Ram senior Brandon Smolarek (Chesterfield, Mich.) and Leopard freshman Matt Jenkins (Mount Pearl, N.L.) would allow a goal. Suffolk had an 11-10 shot advantage in the middle fame.
Both teams would have chances early in the third period before Bishop's marker at 5:18 broke the ice. Sophomore Jack Jenkins (Billerica, Mass.) would send a pass along the right side to freshman Nick Mosher (Cumming, Ga.). Mosher would find Bishop who beat Jenkins to the stick side.
Wentworth nearly tied it minutes later, however a shot attempt dinged off the post.
With 1:45 remaining, Holliday gave the Rams a two-goal advantage when he scored from juniors Simon Leahy (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and Stanton Tuner (San Francisco, Calif.).
After the goal the Leopards called their time out and Jenkins was pulled for an extra attacker and the move paid off with 19 seconds left when freshman Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) scored from in front of the net of passes from sophomore Erik Andersson (Madison, N.J.) and senior Mike Cox (Marlborough, Mass.). Wentworth would win the ensuing face-off, however would be unable to get the equalizer as Suffolk sealed the win with a face-off victory with three seconds left.
Smolarek made 30 saves to pick up the win while Jenkins, making his first collegiate start, made 33 stops which included 12 in the third period. Suffolk had a 35-31 shot advantage.
Wentworth is at New England College Friday night while Suffolk hosts Stonehill on Thursday.