Box Score
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| Mason Pulde made 14 saves in the third period to help the Jumbos secure the 2-1 win over Middlebury |
MALDEN, Mass. – The Tufts men's hockey team returned to their home ice for the first time since early December and they picked up right where they left off, beating a NESCAC opponent. The Jumbos topped NESCAC rival Middlebury, 2-1, at the Malden Forum on Friday night.
With the win the Jumbos (7-9-1, 4-6-1 NESCAC) are now 4-2 on their home ice this year, and have a four game winning streak at home. The Panthers (7-7-3, 4-4-3 NESCAC) were receiving votes in the latest USCHO.com national poll.
The Jumbos opened up strong and pressured the Middlebury defense early, but eventually the Panthers got rolling and the offensive pressure was pretty even for most of the first period.
The Jumbos got on the board with just over three minutes remaining in the period. Junior Dominic Granato launched a shot from the right wing, and in the commotion in front of the net, freshman Brian Brown was able to get his stick on the puck to send it past Panther junior net minder Liam Moorfield-Yee. Brown's team-leading tenth goal of the season gave the Jumbos the 1-0 lead to take into the intermission.
The Jumbos would make it 2-0 just under seven minutes into the second frame when senior Shawn Power fired a slap shot from the right side that snuck past Moorfield-Yee. Classmate William Sellers and sophomore Patrick Lackey were credited with the assists.
The Panthers scored their first and only with just under ten minutes remaining in the period when junior Zach Haggerty fired a shot that Tufts sophomore goalie Mason Pulde was able to save. Panther senior Derek Pimentel was able to sneak the puck past Pulde off the rebound to bring the Panthers within one. Haggerty and senior Braeden Quast were given the helpers.
The Jumbos and Panthers would play a scoreless third period, but the Middlebury offense put plenty of pressure on Pulde and his defense. Pulde picked up 14 saves during the third period, including four in the last 2:30. The Panthers would pull Moorfield-Yee for an extra skater with just under a minute to play, but they weren't able to find the equalizer.
Pulde finished with 31 saves on the night, while Moorfield-Yee collected 20 in the outing. The Panthers were 0-for-2 on the power play and the Jumbos were not able to connect with their one power play opportunity. Middlebury held the advantage in shots, 32-22.
The Jumbos will look to keep their home winning streak alive on Saturday afternoon when they host #11 nationally ranked Williams for a 4:00 pm puck drop. Middlebury will play at Connecticut College on Saturday with a 3:00 pm scheduled start.
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