Box Score
|
| Matt Pugh scored the first goal for the Jumbos against Trinity Saturday |
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Tufts men's ice hockey team won the program's first NESCAC quarterfinal game, topping first-seeded Trinity, 2-1 Saturday afternoon at the Williams Rink in the Koeppel Community Sports Center. The Jumbos picked up goals from sophomore Matt Pugh and senior Tyler Voigt, to add to a stellar performance in net from sophomore Mason Pulde to secure the win.
The Jumbos move to 9-14-2 on the season and will advance to play Amherst in the semifinals of the tournament next Friday or Saturday at Amherst. The Bantams fall to 21-3-1 this season. They were ranked second in both the D3hockey.com and USCHO.com national polls. The Jumbos snapped a seven game winning streak of the Bantams, and the Bantams had won 17 of their last 18 games before falling to the Jumbos on Saturday.
The Jumbos applied pressure early, firing off 14 shots in the first period, compared to the Bantams six. The best scoring opportunity for the Jumbos during the first 20 minutes came on the penalty kill as junior tri-captain Stewart Bell came in on a breakaway, and saw his backhand attempt turned aside by Trinity's junior net minder Nathaniel Heilbron.
It wasn't until just over halfway through the second period that the Jumbos would take the lead with a goal from Pugh. Pugh fired a shot from the left side of the ice that beat Heilbron on the low far side to give the visitors the 1-0 lead. Freshman Scott Majkowski was credited with the assist.
With less than a minute remaining in the second, the hosts knotted the game at one as first-year Anythony Sabitsky buried a rebound for his ninth of the season with 53 seconds on the clock. Senior assistant captain Paul Burns started the play with a shot on goal from the point and sophomore Ryan Cole saw his rebound attempt stopped before Sabitsky found the back of the net. Burns recorded his eighth assist of the season on the play, while Cole picked up his 21st helper of the winter. After the second period, the score would remain locked at one a piece.
Just over four minutes into the third period, and the score tied at one, senior Tyler Voigt collected a loose puck in front of the net and potted his sixth marker of the year. With the puck deep in the Bantam zone, Trinity failed to clear and paid the price as junior Dominic Granato fired a shot that was saved by Heilbron and ended up on the uncontested stick of Voigt.
Trailing by a goal, the Bantams turned it on firing 25 shots on goal in the final stanza. With under two minutes remaining, Tufts was whistled for a charging penalty. With the man-advantage, the Bantams pulled Heilbron in favor of an extra skater. Down the stretch, Trinity had several chances on the doorstep, but Pulde stood his ground as he did all afternoon to help his team escape with the upset victory.
Heilbron finished with 23 saves in the losing effort. The Bantams, who will wait to see if they will receive a bid into the NCAA tournament, were not able to convert on any of their five power play opportunities.
Trinity outshot the Jumbos on the day, 43-25. But, Pulde finished with 42 saves in net for the Jumbos. The visitors were 0-for-1 on power play opportunities.
The Jumbos will face Amherst in the NESCAC Tournament semifinals next weekend at the Lord Jeff's home rink. In the other game the winners of the other two quarterfinal games, Hamilton at Connecticut College and Bowdoin at Williams, will face off as well.
Parts of this recap courtesy of Trinity Sports Information
#
