PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team was able to capitalize on their slew of powerplay opportunities and earned themselves a 4-3 non-conference victory over the SUNY Potsdam Bears in Saturday afternoon's consolation game of the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: POT: 4-11-1; WIT: 3-9-1
SHOTS: POT: 27; WIT: 25
PENALTIES/MINUTES: POT: 7/14; WIT: 9/18
POWER PLAYS: POT: 3-9; WIT: 3-7
GOALIE SAVES: POT: Stephen Friedland, 21; WIT: Jack McGovern, 24
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- 11:52 in the game, the Leopards found luck on the powerplay as junior Josh Faussett (Okemos, Mich.) scored on a shot from the high slot. Faussett's tally, dished out by sophomores George Weiner (Wayne N.J.) and Sean Brown (Seabrook, N.H.), gave Wentworth a 1-0 lead in the first period.
- With 5:05 remaining in the second period, freshman Nikolas Sombrowski (Fernie, B.C.) scored from a sharp angle, sprouting from a bank shot that bounced off the boards behind the goal. Sombrowski's third goal of the season put the Black & Gold ahead by a 2-0 score.
- The Leopards kept the powerplay hot as freshman Nolan Lowe (Toronto, Ont.) had a nice give-and-go play with sophomore Jacob Shankar (Johnstown, Ont.) in the neutral zone. The play gave Lowe a lane to take a shot towards the twine, and he did so, giving Wentworth a 3-0 lead 5:31 into the third period.
- The Bears managed to cash in on a powerplay of their own when freshman Ryan Mahlmeister (Massapequa, N.Y.) received a back-door pass and had nothing but net to shoot at, cutting the score to 3-1 just 56 seconds after Lowe's goal.
- Shankar scooped up a rebound opportunity and beat senior Stephen Friedland (West Bloomfield, Mich.) at even-strength, giving the Leopards a 4-1 lead just over 12 minutes into the third.
- Graduate student Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ont.) cut the lead to two on a shot from the circle that beat freshman Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.) on the powerplay.
- The Bears found the back of the net again on the powerplay when sophomore Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y.) scored on a one-timer, making the score 4-3 with just over five minutes left in the third period.
SERIES NOTES:
- Today marked the third time the two teams have met, with Wentworth now leading the series 2-1 after today's win.
NEXT UP:
- The Leopards play Suffolk on the road in a CCC matchup on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
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