EVERETT, Mass. – Freshman Erik Andersson's (Madison, N.J.) eighth goal of the season, coming with 4:45 remaining in regulation, snapped a 1-all tie and lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team to a 2-1 win over Suffolk in an ECAC Northeast clash played at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink Sunday evening.
With the win the Leopards finish the regular season with an 11-11-3 (6-6-2) record and clinch a berth in the upcoming ECAC Northeast Tournament, which begins Saturday. Wentworth will either be the number four or number five seed depending on the outcome of the Curry/Becker contest which is scheduled for Monday afternoon. The Rams fall to 10-12-2 (4-7-2) and conclude the regular season against Western New England on Tuesday, needing a win to earn the sixth and final playoff berth.
A scoreless first period saw Suffolk have a pair of power-play attempts, however would only manage to get one shot off during the extra-man advantages. The Rams held a slim, 8-7 shot advantage through the first 20:00.
Wentworth had the advantage in the early part of the second period, however were unable to put the puck past junior Brandon Smolarek (Chesterfield, Mich.). Suffolk would break the stalemate at the 15:50 mark when junior Mike Cherpak (Enfield, Conn.) netted a power play tally from sophomore Daryll Medvedev (Boston, Mass.). The goal came shortly after the Rams successfully killed off a 5x3 shorthanded situation.
Just 31 seconds later the Leopards evened the game at a goal apiece when senior Ben Iwanowski (Dorval, Que.) sent a pass in to freshman Elliot Tisdale (Valencia, Pa.) who slipped a shot past Smolarek. Just over two minutes later the Black & Gold had a chance to take a 2-1 lead, however senior Mike Domsodi (Kirkland, Que.) fired a shot from the point that rattled off the near post. The Leopards would have a second 5x3 advantage which would carry into the third period but could not convert.
Nearly 24 hours after skating to a 5-5 tie, the two teams appeared to be headed for another draw as both teams had chances in the third period, including when sophomore Kyle LeBrun (Bridgewater, Mass.) had a pair of shots off a breakaway that Smolarek stopped. His counterpart, junior Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.) also made several key stops in the early going. However, Andersson would break the tie when Domsodi sent a pass into the zone and Andersson snuck a shot past Smolarek to the right side.
Smolarek was pulled for an extra attacker with 53 seconds left, but the Rams could only manage one shot which went wide.
Miller made 23 saves, including nine in the second period, while Smolarek stopped 26 shots, including 13 in the second period. Wentworth held a 28-24 shot advantage for the game.
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
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Suffolk............. 0 1 0 - 1
Wentworth........... 0 1 1 - 2
1st period (No Scoring) - Penalties - Ryan Sullivan, WIT (holding) 1:56; Kevin Crowe, WIT (interference) 15:21.
2nd period - 1, SUFFOLK, Mike Cherpak/4 (Danyil Medvedev/8) 15:50 (pp). 2, WIT, Elliot Tisdale/2 (Ben Iwanowski/8) 16:21. Penalties - Sean McLaughlin, WIT (boarding) 2:07; Stanton Turner, SUFFOLK (slashing) 11:04; Tim Sprague, SUFFOLK (interference) 12:38; Joe Mottiqua, WIT (slashing) 15:01; Tyler Murray, SUFFOLK (tripping) 18:09; Tyler Heineman, SUFFOLK (holding) 19:48.
3rd period - 3, WIT, Erik Andersson/8 (Mike Domsodi/13) 15:15. Penalties - Stanton Turner, SUFFOLK (tripping) 8:42; Cam McLennan, WIT (slashing) 12:15.
Shots on goal - SUFFOLK 8-10-6 24; WIT 7-14-7 28.
Power plays - SUFFOLK 1 of 5; WIT 0 of 5.
Penalties - SUFFOLK 5 (10 min); WIT 5 (10 min).
Goalies - SUFFOLK, Brandon Smolarek 9-11-2 (59:07 minutes, 28 shots-26 saves), EMPTY NET (00:53, 0-0); WIT, Joel Miller 6-7-2 (59:49, 24-23), EMPTY NET (00:11, 0-0).
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Hockey Doubled up by Curry in ECAC Northeast Tournament
February 26, 2015
Hockey to Open ECAC Northeast Tournament Play on Saturday
February 26, 2015
Domsodi Named Honorable Mention All-ECAC Northeast
February 22, 2015
Hockey Edges Suffolk to Earn Playoff Berth
February 21, 2015
Hockey Salvages Tie With Suffolk
February 18, 2015
Hockey Shut Out by Curry
February 14, 2015
Hockey Skates Past Becker
February 11, 2015
Hockey Tripped Up By Nichols
February 7, 2015
Hockey Falls to Western New England
February 5, 2015
Hockey Shuts Out Johnson & Wales
January 31, 2015
Hockey Edged by Salve Regina
January 26, 2015
Andersson Named ECAC Northeast Rookie of the Week
January 23, 2015
Hockey Doubles Up Becker
January 18, 2015
Hockey Gets Back on Winning Track
January 14, 2015
Strong Second Period Pushes UMass Boston Past Hockey
January 11, 2015
Hockey Tripped up by Manhattanville
January 5, 2015
Bourgonje Named ECAC Northeast Player of the Week
January 3, 2015
Hockey Captures Salem State Invitational Title
January 2, 2015
Hockey Holds on to Defeat Wesleyan
December 8, 2014
Domsodi Named ECAC Northeast Player of the Week
December 7, 2014
Hockey Rallies Past Suffolk
December 6, 2014
Late Goal Lifts Stonehill Past Hockey
November 30, 2014
Hockey Shut Out by Colby
November 29, 2014
Strong First Period Helps Bowdoin Skate Past Hockey
November 22, 2014
Hockey Rallies to Tie Curry
November 19, 2014
Sattler's Three-Point Night Helps Hockey Snap Losing Streak
November 15, 2014
Nichols Rallies Past Hockey
November 13, 2014
Hockey Suffers First Loss of the Season
November 8, 2014
Hockey Edges Johnson & Wales in League Opener
November 1, 2014
Hockey Captures ICFCU Shootout Crown
October 31, 2014
Hockey Opens Season With 3-1 Win
October 31, 2014
Hockey Picked to Finish Fifth in ECAC Northeast
August 7, 2014
Jay Pecora Named Head Ice Hockey Coach