Box Score
|
| Ryan Wolter scored his first collegiate goal against Trinity Friday |
MALDEN – Rookie David Lackner put the Jumbos on the board first with a short handed goal in the second period, but they weren't able to hold on to the lead, falling to No. 8 Trinity 3-2 at the Malden Valley Forum on Friday evening. Classmate Ryan Wolter scored his first collegiate goal for the Jumbos in the set back.
With the loss the Jumbos move to 5-6-4 overall and 1-5-3 in NESCAC play. The Bantams, who were ranked No. 8 in the most recent US College Hockey Online national poll, are 11-3-1 overall this year and 7-2-0 in conference tilts.
The Bantams put plenty of pressure on the Jumbos during the first period as they outshot the home team 20-5 during the first 20 minutes of play. It looked like the visitors were going to have a chance to score when Jumbo sophomore Trevor Davis was sent to the box for hooking. But, the Jumbo defense played well and allowed them just one shot on goal during the penalty.
The second period was drastically different from the first, as four goals were scored. Lacker got the Jumbos on the board first with a short-handed goal just under two minutes into the second period. Lackner and Trinity keeper Nathaniel Heilbron were fighting over the puck behind the Trinity goal and Lackner was able to win the battle and sneak the puck around the front of the goal and into the corner past a diving Heilbron. The goal was his fifth of the season.
The Bantams would tie it just about five minutes later when Tyler Whitney scored his second goal of the season. Whitney was right in front of the net and received a pass from Ross Mandigo that he was able to tip in past Tufts sophomore net minder Nik Nugnes. The Bantams would score again less than three minutes later when Anthony Sabitsky's slap shot got past Nugnes just over nine minutes into the period. Mark Knowlton and Ryan Cole were credited with assists on the score.
The Bantams tallied their third score of the period when Elie Vered had a breakaway opportunity and he was able to beat Nugnes one-on-one in the top right corner for his fourth score of the season to give the Bantams a 3-1 advantage to end the second period.
The Jumbos would be the only team to score in the third period. About a minute and a half into the third period Clay Berger, who was behind the goal, passed the puck to Wolter in front of the goal and the rookie was able to tally his first collegiate goal. Junior Patrick Lackey was also credited with an assist.
But, that would be as close as the Jumbos would get. Senior co-captain Stewart Bell had a great breakaway opportunity with just under 13 minutes left in the game, but his shot hit Heilbron right in the chest. The Jumbos pulled Nugnes from the net with a minute remaining in the third period, but they weren't able to even the score.
The Bantams finished with the advantage in shots on the evening, 49-22. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play as the Bantams were 0-for-4 with the man advantage and the Jumbos were 0-for-1. Heilbron finished with 20 saves in the win, while Nugnes made a 46 saves in the loss for the Jumbos.
The Bantams play again tomorrow at Connecticut College with a 3 pm scheduled start. The Jumbos will continue their home stand with a 4 pm contest with Wesleyan tomorrow.
#
