BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Tony Cibelli (Westboro, Mass.) scored with 1:15 remaining in regulation and Emmanuel's defense forced a turnover in the waning seconds of the contest as the Saints defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 11-10, in non-conference action Thursday night at Sweeney Field.
With the win Emmanuel improves to 5-7 on the year while the Leopards fall to 5-8.
Cibelli's goal snapped a 5-0 Wentworth run as the hosts rallied from a five-goal deficit with 3:13 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 10-all with 5:01 remaining in the contest.
The Saints went on the board with 10:47 remaining in the opening stanza on a goal from sophomore Cullen Sweeney (Scituate, Mass.). Junior Kevin Butler (Jefferson, Mass.), sophomore Jason Buck (Manlius, N.Y.), and freshman Riley Smith (Plaistow, N.H.) scored within 2:10 of each other to give the hosts a 3-1 lead. Sophomore Ben Orr (Reading, Vt.) closed the gap to 3-2 with a goal with 3:19 left in the first.
After senior Sean Farmer (Billerica, Mass.) gave Wentworth a 4-2 lead 37 seconds into the second quarter, Cibelli, freshman Andrew Griffin (Arlington, Mass.), and Sweeney put Emmanuel on top, 5-4. A minute and 34 seconds later sophomore Chris Quinn (Newton, Mass.) evened the score at 5-all, however the Saints scored the next five goals to take a 10-5 lead with 3:13 left in the third quarter.
Butler and Smith scored 37 seconds apart late in the third quarter to begin the Leopards comeback as the Black & Gold trailed, 10-7, heading into the final 15 minutes of play. Buck and Butler opened the fourth quarter with tallies to make it a 10-9 game with 10:30 remaining. Smith would set up sophomore Spencer Allen (New Boston, N.H.) with the tying goal nearly five and a half minutes later.
After a Wentworth turnover with 3:36 left, the Saints had a successful clear and called time out with 2:39 left. Emmanuel had two shot attempts, one went wide and the other was saved by junior Adam Dufault (Lexington, Mass.). With possession after the rebound went out of bounds, the Saints worked the ball around and sophomore Sam Ward (Hampstead, N.H.) found Cibelli who beat Dufault with a shot from in front.
Junior Michael Sousa (Cranston, R.I.) won the ensuing faceoff and with 43 ticks left Emmanuel called time out. Out of the time out, sophomore Sean Brennan (Stony Point, N.Y.) caused a turnover which was picked up by freshman Mark Howland (Lititz, Pa.). with 21 seconds left. Wentworth attempted to work the ball in for an attempt to the tie game, however senior Chris Baglivi (Mattituck, N.Y.) caused a turnover and picked up the loose ball to seal the win.
Junior Charlie Moran (Maitland, Fla.) had a goal and three assists to pace the Emmanuel offense while Orr had three goals, Cibelli had two goals and an assist, and Sweeney had two goals. Sousa was 17-of-23 at the X and scooped up 14 ground balls while Baglivi and sophomore Adam Crabtree (Warwick, R.I.) had three caused turnovers apiece.
Butler finished with three goals and an assist while Smith had a pair of goals and an assist and Buck had two goals. Farmer and Allen each had a goal and an assist. Dufault picked up seven ground balls and Brennan caused three turnovers.
Freshman Erik Jennings (South Berwick, Maine) made seven saves while Dufault had 13 stops. Emmanuel had a 32-28 shot advantage and a 46-32 edge on ground balls. The Saints were 18-of-19 of clearing attempts while the Leopards were 20-of-24.
Wentworth host Regis on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
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