HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Junior Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman Nikolas Sombrowski (Fernie, B.C.) posted multi-point nights and junior Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) posted a career-high 42 saves as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team defeated the Bison of Nichols in their first Commonwealth Coast Conference meeting on Friday evening.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: NC: 3-4-0, 1-4-0 CCC; WIT: 2-4-1, 1-3-1 CCC
SHOTS: NC: 45; WIT: 28
PENALTIES/MINUTES: NC: 6/12; WIT: 7/14
POWER PLAYS: NC: 0-6; WIT: 2-5
GOALIE SAVES: NC: Anthony Bonaldi, 12 (28:12); Mathias Backstrom, 12 (30:53) ; WIT: Will Oliver, 42
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Leopards broke the scoreless tie 5:22 into the first with a shot from the point from freshman Hunter Wilson (Westport, Conn.) after sophomore Jacob Shankar (Johnstown, Ont.) played the puck back to the defenseman along the boards. The score was Wilson's first collegiate goal and put the visitors ahead 1-0.
- Just over six minutes later, the Bison tied the score when freshman Damon Dulac (Mascouche, Quebec) picked up a loose puck out front of junior Will Oliver (Chesterfield, Mo.) and had nothing but net to shoot at.
- The Leopards responded on a power play just 1:05 after Dulac's tally when junior Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) received a slick back-door pass from freshman Nikolas Sombrowski (Fernie, B.C.). Reid's deflection found the back of the net and put the Leopards ahead 2-1 just over midway through the first.
- With 48 seconds left in the first, Wentworth scored another power play goal as Reid placed a nice one-touch pass in the slot for freshman Nolan Lowe (Toronto, Ont.) to cash in for his first collegiate goal, giving the Black and Gold a 3-1 lead.
- 8:15 into the second, the Leopards power play struck again as freshman Travis Marchant (Londonderry, N.H.) potted a goal to put the team ahead 4-1.
- Nichols wasn't letting off the pressure despite being down by three as senior Hunter Fraser (Grafton, Mass.) scored towards the waning minutes of the second to cut the deficit in half by a 4-2 score.
- The Bison managed to make one final tally as sophomore Kaiden Scott (Detroit, Mich.) scored 15:02 into the third to bring Nichols within a goal of a tie. However, Oliver stood tall in net, keeping the score at 4-3.
SERIES NOTES:
- Nichols leads the all-time series, 27-20-3, as tonight marked the 50th meeting between the two teams.
NEXT UP:
- Wentworth comes back home to play the Bison again tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
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