#12 UNE Edges Men’s Ice Hockey Despite Comeback Try

Behind 4-0, Leopards cut the deficit to 4-3 midway through the third; Nor'Easters hold on for 5-3 CNE win

Photo by Gabriella Walazek '28
Photo by Gabriella Walazek '28
January 25, 2025

BIDDEFORD, Maine – For the second straight game in as many days, a late comeback try by the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team fell short in the third period to the University of New England Nor'Easters in conference action Saturday night.

Behind 4-0, the Leopards closed the gap at 4-3 but ultimately fell at 5-3, pushing their record to 5-11-2 and 3-6-1 in Conference of New England play. The Nor'Easters improve to 12-5-1 and 8-3 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Nor'Easters broke the ice just over five minutes into the opening frame as Drew Olivieri tapped home a rebound try from just outside the crease. UNE doubled their lead at the 12:08 mark of the first as Ryan Kuzmich redirected a shot from the point on the powerplay.
  • The Nor'Easters struck in both the first and last minute of the second period, first scoring 58 seconds in when Jayden Price banked in a loose puck out front. With 28 seconds left in the period, Dominic Murphy flung a backhander to the net on the powerplay to extend UNE's lead to 4-0.
  • Wentworth cut into the lead in the third period, starting with an Ian Worthley rebound try that ripped twine at the 8:44 mark. At the 11:08 mark, the Leopards cut the deficit to two on the powerplay as George Weiner fired home a wrist shot.
  • The Leopards dwindled the deficit to just one just 46 seconds later as Nikolas Sombrowski tapped in a tic-tac-toe play with Ethan Lim and Jesse Chamberlain. However, Olivieri capitalized on a loose puck in the Leopards' zone and tucked it home to give UNE a 5-3 lead with just over two minutes left to play.
  • Stefan Carney made 22 saves to preserve the win for the Nor'Easters. In goal for the Leopards, Jack McGovern made turned aside 32 shots.

SERIES NOTES:

  • Tonight marked the 23nd all-time matchup between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

 

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on "X," Facebook and Instagram.