EVERETT, Mass. – Sophomore Griffin Leonard (Winnipeg, Man.) scored the first four points of his collegiate career, including netting a pair of first period goals, as the Salve Regina University ice hockey team (4-2-0, 4-1-0 CCC) defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology (1-5-1, 0-4-1) in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Friday night.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: SRU: (4-2-0, 4-1-0 CCC); WIT (1-5-1, 0-4-1 CCC)
SHOTS: SRU: 35; WIT: 22
PENALTIES/MINUTES: SRU: 5/10; WIT: 5/10
POWER PLAYS: SRU: 0-4; WIT: 0-4
GOALIE SAVES: SRU – Nicholas Latinovich, 22; WIT – Thomas Draper, 29
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Senior Thomas Draper (Binghamton, N.Y.) made five saves early on for Wentworth, which included one while the Leopards were shorthanded. At the 9:31 mark, Leonard tipped in a shot in front, which was set up by freshman Oliver Wieringa (Woodstock, Ont.) and junior Grant Rinke (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.).
- The Leopards put their first shot on net at the 11:44 mark of the period as sophomore Thomas Hernandez's bid was denied by senior Nicholas Latinovich (Vaughan, Ont.). Just under two minutes later, senior Jake McKenelley (Middleton, Mass.) had a shot saved by Latinovich and, on a breakout, Leonard scored his second of the contest, which was set up by freshman Brendan Kim (Burnaby, B.C.) at 13:43. Salve Regina finished the first period with an 11-4 shot advantage.
- Just past the midway point of the second period, the Seahawks made it a 3-0 game when Leonard set up freshman Braden Paquette (Grand Prairie, Alta.). Wentworth went on the power play at the 15:47 mark of the period but would surrender a shorthanded goal when junior Mitch Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) created a turnover and went in alone.
- Wentworth mounted pressure in the third period, which included shots from close range that were saved by Latinovich, but could not put one in the back of the net. At the 7:54 mark, Salve Regina increased its lead to 5-0 when sophomore Seth Benson (Moorhead, Minn.) scored from freshman Damon Zimmer (Camrose, Alta.). The Seahawks added a goal shortly after their fourth power play of the night when Rinke and Leonard set up Wieringa at 19:42.
- Latinovich earned the shutout with a 22-save performance. 10 of those 22 saves came in the third period. Draper made 29 saves for the Black & Gold.
SERIES NOTES:
- Tonight marked the 40th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth holds a 27-10-3 series advantage. Salve Regina has won the last four meetings and is 4-1-2 in the last seven meetings.
NEXT UP:
- The two teams are back at it tomorrow in Newport, R.I. (St. George's School), for the back end of their home-and-home series. Faceoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
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