GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Parker Sanderson (Bangor, Maine) had a goal and two assists to lead a balanced offense as the University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team defeated the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards 7-2 in a non-conference game Saturday at the USM Ice Arena.
Winners of two straight, the Huskies climbed above the .500 mark with a 5-4 overall record. The Leopards dropped their fifth straight contest to slip to 3-6-1 overall. This was the first meeting between these two programs.
Leading by a pair of goals the Huskies potted three empty-net goals in the final minute, with the first coming off the stick of Sanderson at 19:00 to break the contest open.
Sanderson set up the Huskies' first goal in the opening period with a pass to rookie Tyler Mathieu (Stillwater Lake, N.S.). He picked up his second assist on a third-period goal by senior Zach Dymock (Dutton, Ont.) that made the score 4-2.
Mathieu and Wentworth sophomore Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) traded goals in the first period. Mathieu redirected Sanderson's pass out from behind the net by Wentworth senior goalie Joel Miller (Calgary, Alb.) at the 12:00 mark. McDonough equalized at 18:57 off a set-up from rookie Sean Brennan (Stony Point, N.Y.) and sophomore Ryan Sullivan (Whately, Mass.).
Senior Chad O'Brien (Johnstown, Penn.) scored the only goal of the second period to give USM a 2-1 lead. O'Brien's shot from a bad angle eluded Miller inside the near post.
Sophomore Alex Pantalone (Hudson, Mass.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 3:46 of the third period. Pantalone picked up a Wentworth turnover in the zone, turned and whipped a 30-foot wrist shot inside the right post.
Junior Jake Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn.) pulled the Leopards within one at 6:47 with his first goal of the season. McDonough created the opportunity along the left-wing boards just seconds after USM had killed off a Leopard power play.
Dymock added his insurance goal at 12:37 picking the top right corner on Miller after an assist from Sanderson. Sophomore Victor Ivarsson (Stockholm, Sweden), who assisted on USM's first goal of the game, picked up his second assist on the play.
Sanderson and classmates Jimmy Currier (Middleton, Mass.) and Kyle Huhn (Brick, N.J.) tacked on empty-net goals in the final minute to account for the final score.
USM sophomore goalie Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) recorded 19 saves to earn his fifth win of the season. Miller had 32 saves before being lifted for the extra attacker. Southern Maine finished the game with a 39-21 edge in shots on goal.
The Huskies travel to New England College next Friday (7:00 p.m.). Wentworth will travel to Stonehill College on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference game.
USM Sports Information Contributed to this Recap
March 15, 2016
Six Named to ECAC Northeast All-Academic Team
March 2, 2016
Hockey Falls to Endicott in ECAC Northeast Semifinals
February 28, 2016
Flynn's Golden Goal Lifts Hockey Into ECAC Northeast Semifinals
February 26, 2016
Flynn, Miller Named All-ECAC Northeast
February 25, 2016
Hockey Set to Face Off at Suffolk Sunday
February 20, 2016
Hockey Tops Salve Regina in Regular-Season Finale
February 16, 2016
Hockey Doubled up by Becker
February 13, 2016
Hockey Ends Drought Against Nichols
February 8, 2016
Miller Named ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Week
February 6, 2016
Hockey Skates Past Suffolk For Fourth Straight Victory
February 3, 2016
Hockey Holds Off Late Endicott Comeback
January 30, 2016
McDonough, Miller Help Hockey Pick Up Second Straight Win
January 28, 2016
Hockey Ends Winless Drought With Win at Western New England
January 23, 2016
Hockey Tripped Up by Curry
January 20, 2016
Early Goals Help Salve Regina Fly Past Hockey
January 17, 2016
Hockey Snaps Losing Streak With Tie at Assumption
January 16, 2016
Early Third Period Goal Pushes Becker Past Hockey
January 9, 2016
Late Hockey Rally Falls Short at Plymouth State
December 11, 2015
Fast Start Paces UMass Boston Past Hockey in Semester-Ending Contest
December 5, 2015
Hockey Tripped up by Nichols
December 1, 2015
Strong Second Period Pushes Stonehill Past Hockey
November 28, 2015
Southern Maine Skates Past Hockey
November 21, 2015
Hockey Doubled Up By Saint Anselm
November 20, 2015
Hockey Shut Out at New England College
November 17, 2015
Hockey Edged by Suffolk
November 14, 2015
Endicott's Fast Start Stops Hockey's Unbeaten Streak
November 11, 2015
Miller Records Second Straight Shutout as Hockey Ties Johnson & Wales
November 9, 2015
Miller Named ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Week
November 7, 2015
Hockey Shuts Out Western New England in Home Opener
November 5, 2015
Hockey Opens League Play With Win at Curry
October 31, 2015
Hockey Falls at Fitchburg State
October 30, 2015
Hockey Opens Season With Shutout of Worcester State
October 23, 2015
Hockey Tabbed for Sixth in Coaches' Poll