EVERETT, Mass. – Freshman Mitch McGinn's (Salem, N.H.) goal at 9:31 of the third period snapped a 5-all tie and started a four-goal run as the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team went on the offensive in a 9-5 win over Western New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference play
Nine different student-athletes scored goals for the Leopards, who scored nine goals for the first time since a 9-4 win over Becker on February 8, 2020. Four of those nine – freshman George Weiner (Wayne, N.J.), senior Joey O'Leary (Boston, Mass.), senior Jake McKenelley (Middleton, Mass.), and junior Kevin Obssuth (Chester, N.H.) also recorded two assists in the win.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: WNE (4-15-2, 2-14-1 CCC); WIT (5-14-2, 4-12-1 CCC)
SHOTS: WNE: 26; WIT: 40
PENALTIES/MINUTES: WNE: 1-2; WIT: 7-14
POWER PLAYS: WNE: 3-7; WIT: 0-1
GOALIE SAVES: WIT: Connor Carbo, 21; Colten Lancaster (22:09), 10; Anthony Aureliano (36:27), 21
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Wentworth wasted little time getting on the board as freshman Sean Brown (Seabrook, N.H.) scored just 1:11 into the contest when he was set up by O'Leary and McKenelley. Western New England tied the game with a power-play goal at the 6:50 mark when Lliam Christiano (Trumbull, Conn.) scored. Freshman Charlie Reid (Marshfield, Mass.) put the hosts in front again when he scored from Obssuth and McGinn. With 3:41 left in the frame, the Golden Bears tied the game on a goal from sophomore Billy Hefferle (Flanders, N.J.). Wentworth closed out the period by taking the lead again when freshman Luke Jeffries (Kanata, Ont.) fired home a missile from the top of the left faceoff circle.
- Weiner put the hosts on top, 4-2, with his goal from McKenelley at 2:09 of the second period before Hefferle scored his second of the game, coming on the power play, at 14:55. Obssuth put the Leopards back on top by a pair when he scored his 10th of the season with 1:47 left in the period.
- The Golden Bears came out firing to start the third period, scoring twice in a span of 2:52 to tie the game at 5-all. Freshman Sam Mitchell (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored at 2:27 while sophomore Kyle Knight (Mantua, N.J.) scored on the power play at 5:19.
- McGinn redirected a Weiner shot to the back of the net, which gave the Leopards a 6-5 lead. At 16:36, Winer and junior Trent Pitser (Beverly Hills, Mich.) set up O'Leary, making it a two-goal game. With the goalie pulled, junior Matt Ernster (Barrington, R.I.) caused a turnover and scored an empty net goal with 1:03 left. Just 24 seconds later, O'Leary fed McKenelley to complete the scoring.
- Sophomore Connor Carbo Berlin, Vt.) made 21 saves for the Leopards. Sophomore Anthony Aureliano (Old Brookville, N.Y.) made 21 saves in 36:27 of action. He replaced junior Colten Lancaster (Kelowna, B.C.) who gave up four goals in 22:09.
SERIES NOTES:
- Tonight marked the 50th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth holds a commanding, 38-9-1 series lead.
NEXT UP:
- Wentworth is at Salve Regina Friday at 8:00 p.m.
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