Salve Regina Rallies Past Hockey in CCC Tournament Opener

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – A back-and-forth affair was decided by a late third-period tally by sophomore Walter Baumann (Gate Mills, Ohio) as the fourth-seeded Salve Regina Seahawks (16-8-2) rallied past fifth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology (10-15-1) by a 4-2 score Wednesday night in the opening round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.

With the win, the Seahawks move on to face top-seeded Curry in the semifinals on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth broke the ice just 3:04 into the game on the man-advantage as a mad scramble in front of the blue paint resulted in a dish by freshman Desmond Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) out front for sophomore Nikolas Sombrowski (Fernie, B.C.), who potted the opening goal of the night. The Leopards stood tall for the rest of the first, with sophomore Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.) turning all 17 shots he faced aside.
• The Seahawks knotted the score at one-all just over seven minutes in the second period as sophomore Logan Calder (Portage La Prairie, Man.) redirected a pass out front given by freshman Karsten Kruska (Edmonton, Alta.).
• The Leopards regained their one-goal lead just over a minute later as senior Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) slid the puck across the slot to freshman Dane Probe (Calgary, Alta.), who found nothing but net and marked a 2-1 score with a tally. Wentworth held their 2-1 edge heading into the third.
• Salve Regina tied the game at 2-2 20 seconds into the third frame as senior Joseph Kile (Troy, Mich.) wheeled off of the boards and fired a shot that beat McGovern up high.
• The hosts broke the dead even tie at four-on-four play in the third period as Baumann sank a shot home on a set-up pass by sophomore Jonathan Hammel (Duxbury, Mass.), giving Salve Regina a 3-2 edge with 4:54 to go.
• Wentworth earned a five-on-three powerplay just after Baumann's tally, however, they couldn't capitalize, with junior Cayden Bailey (Estero, Fla.) standing tall in goal for the Seahawks. The Leopards pulled McGovern for the extra attacker following, but senior Seth Benson (Moorhead, Minn.) potted the empty-net goal to give the hosts a 4-2 lead at the 19:24 mark.
• McGovern turned 39 shots aside for the Leopards while Bailey posted 16 saves in the playoff win for the Seahawks.

SERIES NOTES:

• Despite losing the season series, Wentworth leads the all-time meetings, 28-16-5.

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