Box Score MALDEN - Senior assistant captain Rob Devaney had a goal and an assist while freshman Nick Rosa assisted on two goals as the visiting Babson College Beavers won 3-1 at Tufts University in non-league men's hockey action on Tuesday night. The game was the home opener for the Jumbos at Valley Forum.
Babson remained undefeated in their last five games (4-0-1) with the win and improved to 5-2-1 overall. The Jumbos, led by freshman defenseman Craig Uyeno's second goal of the season, dropped to 0-2-1.
Tufts killed three early Beaver power plays in the first period before getting one of their own that they could not capitalize on. With the clock winding down under one minute in the opening period, Babson senior Ryan Gouveia received the puck while wide open down the left side and beat Jumbo senior goalie Nik Nugnes for a 1-0 lead with 32 seconds on the clock. It was an advantage that the Beavers would not relinquish. Boosted by the power plays, Babson out-shot Tufts 14-5 in the opening period.
Early in the second period, three minor penalties where whistled within eight seconds as Babson's Devaney went off for tripping at 3:51, Tufts senior Brian Brown was whistled for hooking at 3:56 and Jumbo freshman Charley Borek received a delay of game penalty at the 3:59 mark. Babson would capitalize on the four seconds that they had a two-man advantage with Devaney's goal at 5:55 of the second period for a 2-0 margin.
The Jumbos would respond quicky to make it 2-1 as Uyeno scored his second goal in as many games just 39 seconds later at 6:34 of the second. Freshmen Hayden Smith and Andrew Hadley both earned their first career points with assists on the play. Nugnes, who made 13 saves in the first period, made 12 more in the second helping the Jumbos keep the margin at one heading into the second intermission.
Tufts continued to do good work short-handed early in the third period as they held Babson to just two shots on goal during a 1:33 two-man advantage for the Beavers. The Jumbos would limit the Beavers to 1 for 8 on power plays for the night. However, Babson would eventually add to its lead on a goal by senior Charlie Ackerman at 12:08 of the third. Rosa, who had assisted Devaney to give the Beavers a 2-0 advantage, had a solo assist again on Ackerman's tally.
The Jumbos would pull Nugnes for the final 1:41, but weren't able to generate much offense during this stretch as the Beavers closed out the win.
Junior Matt Pompa made 20 saves in the victory for Babson while recording his fourth victory. Nugnes finished with 32 stops. Shots finished at 35-21 in favor of the Beavers. Babson dominated at the dots, winning 42 of 65 face-offs. Senior Matt McMorrow won 17 of 26 in the game.
The Jumbos play in Castleton's WSYB/Catamount Radio Invitational this weekend with their opening game versus Brockport on Friday. Babson travels to Williams College for Saturday action.
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