Box Score MALDEN - Visiting Middlebury College scored three times in the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit and earn a 3-2 NESCAC men's hockey victory at Tufts on Saturday at Valley Forum.
Junior Cameron Romoff scored the game-winning goal with 1:07 remaining in regulation for Middlebury, who entered the third period trailing 2-0. The victory stopped a four-game winless stretch for the Panthers, who improved to 2-2-2 overall and remained unbeaten in the league at 2-0-2.
Tufts, which got 49 saves from sophomore goalie Nik Nugnes, dropped to 1-4-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the conference.
Middlebury began its comeback with senior Max Greenwald's unassisted goal at 2:40 of the third period. Greenwald collected a loose puck at the blue line, took a few strides and beat Nugnes stick side to pull the Panthers within 2-1.
Four minutes later, Panther senior Paul Falvey stuck a shot from the circle under the cross bar to tie the score at 2-2 with 13:16 on the third-period clock. Greenwald, Falvey and Romoff's goals were all their first of the season.
Nugnes had stopped all 32 shots he faced through the first two periods to help Tufts take a 2-0 advantage after 40 minutes. He made 18 saves in the second period.
After a first period without a goal or a penalty, Tufts tallied a power-play goal as freshman Nick Balboa notched his first career tally at 10:48 of the second period. Just 1:43 later, the Jumbos doubled their lead to 2-0 with senior co-captain Stewart Bell crashing the net and scoring on his own rebound at 12:31.
Middlebury controlled the third period, eventually finishing with a 20-10 shots advantage. After Romoff tallied the game-winner, the Panthers controlled possession and Tufts was unable to pull the goalie until just 15 seconds remained. They put some last-second pressure on Middlebury's net, but sophomore goalie Stephen Klein held the fort for the win.
Klein finished with 33 saves as the Panthers out-shot Tufts 52-35. Only one penalty was whistled in the game.
Tufts travels to Maine next weekend, first playing at Bowdoin on Friday at 7 pm. Middlebury is at Hamilton next Friday at 7.
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