Box Score MALDEN - The Tufts men's hockey team opened the season with two NESCAC wins for the first time since 2011 after earning a 4-2 victory over Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at Valley Forum.
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| Brian Brown scored the game-winning goal for the second straight day |
With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, Jumbo junior Brian Brown scored the game-winner for the second straight day when he picked the top left corner for a goal at 1:32 of the frame. The Jumbos would add an empty-net goal to seal the win for the second straight day as well.
Last night, Tufts opened the 2016-17 season with a 3-1 win over Trinity. Brown's goal at 17:01 of the third was the winner and an empty-netter capped it.
Wesleyan had dug out of a 2-0 hole today to tie the score at 2-2 on a power-play goal by junior Cam McCusker at 3:21 of the second period. After the Cardinals killed a five-on-three Jumbo advantage for 53 seconds late in the second, the visitors seemed to have the momentum heading into the third.
However, Tufts struck just 92 seconds into third-period action on Brown's goal assisted by freshman Anthony Farinacci and junior Dan Kelly to make it 3-2. Jumbo junior goalie Nik Nugnes stopped all eight shots he faced in the third and Farinacci added the empty-net goal to lock down the win.
Tufts (2-0) had opened the scoring on an unassisted tally by senior Patrick Lackey just 47 seconds into the game. Farinacci hit a post before Lackey added his second goal of the game off an assist from senior captain Mike Leary at 13:50 of the first to give Tufts a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals would cut into the margin just 49 seconds later though as sophmore Victor Lima scored at 14:39 with help from freshman Walker Harris. Wesleyan out-shot Tufts 15-10 in the opening stanza with the Jumbos' Nugnes making 14 saves to help send the game to the first intermission with Tufts up 2-1.
Brown finished the weekend with three goals adding his winner tonight to two goals versus Trinity. Lackey with his two goals and Farinacci with the goal and assist were multi-point scorers for Tufts. Nugnes finished with 28 saves.
Wesleyan posted a large margin in face-off wins at 38-25 with Harris winning 14 of his 19 draws. In addition to McCusker's goal he blocked five shots. Senior goalie Dawson Sprigings made 21 saves including all nine shots he faced in the second. The Cardinals held the Jumbos to 0 for 4 on power-plays and earned a 30-25 shots advantage overall.
Tufts returns to action on Tuesday with a third straight home game to open the season when they face Becker in a 7 pm start. The Cardinals host Southern Maine next Saturday at 4 pm.
