Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

UNE Tops Hockey with a Three-Goal Second Period

Nor'Easters even the weekend series with a 5-1 win; Desmond Johnson scores for the Leopards

UNE Tops Hockey with a Three-Goal Second Period
Box Score
February 3, 2024

EVERETT, Mass. – Sophomore Juraj Elias (Slovakia) netted a pair of power-play goals to help the 12th-ranked University of New England ice hockey team defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 5-1, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon.

With the win the Nor'Easters improve to 14-5-3 overall and 8-4-3 in CCC play while the Leopards drop to 9-12-1 (5-9-1) after seeing their three-game win streak come to an end.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • A tightly contested, back and forth opening to the contest yielded scoring chances for both teams, however Wentworth sophomore Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.) and UNE senior Billy Girard (Boca Raton, Fla.) each made saves to keep it a scoreless game. At the 16:01 mark, the Nor'Easters broke through when freshman Drew Olivieri (Swampscott, Mass.) started a pay in his own zone and eventually scored off passes from sophomore Mike Tersoni (Framingham, Mass.) and sophomore Kevin O'Keefe (Foxborough, Mass.) at the 16:01 mark.
  • UNE broke the game open with three goals in the second period. At the 10:53 mark, O'Keefe and sophomore Chip Hamlett (Princeton, N.J.) set up freshman Ryan Hadland (Prior Lake, Minn.). Elias potted his first of the game, coming on the man advantage, at 14:42 when he was set up by junior Ryan Kuzmich (Norton, Mass.) and sophomore Nathan Chickering (Grantham, N.H.). With 3:38 left in the frame, junior Dylan Schuett (Medicine Hat, Alta.) scored from freshman Carter Casper (Westmont, Ill.) and Tersoni.
  • Wentworth got on the board early in the third period as junior Jacob Shankar (Johnstown, Ont.) carried the puck in and fed classmate George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.). Weiner sent a pass to freshman Desmond Johnson (Naperville, Ill.), who sent a shot behind Girard's far shoulder at the 2:10 mark. Hamlett and Chickering provided helpers on Elias' second marker of the contest, coming at 15:05.
  • McGovern made 26 saves while Girard turned aside 19 shots.

SERIES NOTES:

  • The teams split the season series, 1-1.

NEXT UP:

  • Wentworth hosts Curry on Friday night in the final home game of the season.

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