MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Sophomore John Guay broke a 3-3 tie at 16:50 of the second period, slipping a shot just inside the near post off a feed from down low by freshman Brad Improta, and it proved to be the game-winner for Wesleyan as the Cardinals skated off with a 6-3 league victory over visiting Tufts here this evening. Both teams continue their league weekend on Saturday as Wesleyan hosts Connecticut College and Tufts visits Trinity.
When junior Brett Bandazian set sophomore Nick Craven up for the Cardinals' fifth goal at 9:22 of the third period, Wesleyan had the first two-goal margin of the contest. Bandazian finished the game with three points on a goal and two assists as he ended the evening's scoring with an individual rush at 12:19.
Tufts had led 1-0 and 2-1 on goals by senior Tom Derosa (Charlestown, MA) at 5:50 of the first period on a sharp wrister from the left circle, and a quick shot in close right off a faceoff by freshman Kyle Gallegos (Westminster, CO) at 14:43. Both goals came during a power play with Derosa logging his 10th of the season and Gallegos his team-leading 11th. That's how the opening period ended as junior Tom Saleh had picked up Wesleyan's initial goal at 11:43, also a power-play marker.
Consecutive Wesleyan goals at 7:22 and 10:08 of the second stanza spotted the Cardinals their first lead. A redirection by sophomore Adam Kaiser on a power-play evened the count at 2-2 and a goal by sophomore Ryan White after a puck put behind the Jumbo net by sophomore Donald Kleckner found its way in front made it a 3-2 game. It took Tufts just 1:43 to knot the count at 3-3 on the power play when senior Andy Davis (Woburn, MA) collared a puck and wristed a high shot over a fallen Wesleyan sophomore keeper Matt Hadge, who ended the game with just 19 saves.
The teams were virtually even on shots after two periods, 21-20 in Tufts' favor, but Wesleyan dominated the third period with a 15-1 margin as Tufts goalie junior Evin Koleini (Buffalo, NY) stopped 29 attempts for the game.
Wesleyan avenged an 8-5 loss at Tufts a year ago while improving to 15-12 all-time vs. the Jumbos. Wesleyan has won five of the last six meetings overall, three straight at home and seven of the last eight tilts in Middletown.
Game Box Score
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Game release courtesy of Wesleyan University
