WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A game-winning goal by junior Matt Smoliga (Glenville, Ill.) 3:24 into sudden death gave the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Western New England Golden Bears Friday night, keeping themselves in playoff contention with one game left on the docket.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: WNE: 7-16-1 (5-13-1 CCC); WIT: 5-18-1 (3-16-1 CCC)
SHOTS: WNE: 30; WIT: 35
PENALTIES/MINUTES: WNE: 3/6; WIT: 5/10
POWER PLAYS: WNE: 0-4; WIT: 0-2
GOALIE SAVES: WNE: Colten Lancaster, 33; WIT: Jack McGovern, 29
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In a scoreless opening frame, each team earned two powerplays, with each going 0-2. The Leopards got close to striking one home on their first man-advantage chance as freshman Nikolas Sombrowki (Fernie, B.C.) hit the iron. The visitors ended the first period with a 15-9 shot advantage.
- After the Golden Bears opened the second period on the power play, the Leopards pushed back with a lot of offensive zone pressure, resulting in a nifty two-on-one play that resulted in senior Kasey O'Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) finding the back of the net from the high slot, giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead just under seven minutes into the period.
- WNE tied the score just over three quarters of the way through the third period when graduate student Jason Diamond (Lakeville, Conn.) beat freshman Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.) to knot the score at one apiece.
- The two clubs battled their way to overtime, and 3:24 into the extra frame, junior Matt Smoliga (Glenville, Ill.) scored his second goal of the season on an assist from classmate Josh Faussett (Okemos, Mich.) to give the Leopards a 2-1 victory, their first since January 20.
SERIES NOTES:
- Tonight marked the 46th meeting between the two teams. The Black & Gold lead the all-time series, 35-10-1.
NEXT UP:
- The Leopards host Suffolk in their regular season finale tomorrow afternoon (3:00 pm) as they celebrate Senior Day and Team Impact/Kidney Foundation Awareness.
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