Box Score MALDEN – Tufts sophomore Justin Brandt scored six minutes into the second period and it stood as the game-winner in the Jumbo hockey team's 3-2 NESCAC win over Connecticut College Friday night at Valley Forum.
Tufts picked up a valuable two points with the win, improving to 5-7-1 in the league and 7-11-1 overall. Head coach Pat Norton's Jumbos are now locked in a three-way tie for sixth place with Amherst and Bowdoin at 11 points, just two out of fourth place.
Connecticut College dropped to 4-7-2 in NESCAC and 8-9-2 overall with tonight's loss. The Camels currently sit ninth in the league.
On the game-winner tonight, Jumbo sophomore Angus Scott sent the puck out of the Tufts zone up the right boards where Brandt was quick to beat a Camel defender and collect it in the neutral area. Brandt cut hard into the slot and snapped his fifth goal of the season past Connecticut College senior goalie Connor Rodericks 5:59 into the second period.
That would be the last goal of the game after four were scored in the first period. The visiting Camels had tallied first when junior Greg Pezza's shot from the far side of the left face-off circle squirted free from Tufts junior goalie Drew Hotte and trickled across the goalmouth. Camel sophomore Chris Adamsons came from behind the net to put it in just 1:22 into the game.
Tufts would tie the score after a great effort by senior assistant captain Ross Delabruere. Taking the puck from his own end, Delabruere broke in down the middle, through a pair of Camel defenders, and put a shot on Rodericks. The save rebounded to Tufts junior Mason Babbidge who netted his fourth at 7:16 of the first period to make it 1-1.
The Jumbos took a 2-1 lead on a power play less than three minutes later. During the sustained pressure in the Connecticut College end, senior Cory Gottfried beat Rodericks five-hole from the left point at 10:41.
Connecticut College would get the final goal of a busy first period to tie the game at 2-2. Sophomore Steven Senese won a puck behind the Tufts goal line on the left side and moved out front. His back-handed attempt was saved by Hotte, but Senese scored on the rebound with 4:45 to go in the opening frame.
Tufts made a goalie change at that point and sophomore Josh Sarlo entered. He would stop all 24 Camel shots that he saw in 44:25 of action. He made 10 saves in the second period and 11 more in the third while blanking the visitors in both stanzas.
Both teams had good chances as the game played scoreless the rest of the way. Connecticut College pulled Rodericks with 1:12 remaining in regulation and was swarming in the Jumbo end. A shot by senior Jacob Moreau hit the post, Sarlo had three saves and Jumbo senior captain Cooper Stahl blocked a shot to preserve the Tufts victory.
Brandt finished with a goal and an assist to lead Tufts, who have now won three in a row at home. The Jumbos were 1 for 2 on the man-advantage and killed two Connecticut College power plays. Tufts is 3-1-1 in their last five overall.
Connecticut College, now winless in their last three (0-2-1), out-shot the hosts 36-29. Rodericks finished with 26 saves in the visitors' net.
The teams turn around and finish their home-and-home series tomorrow night at Connecticut College with a 7 pm face-off.
Watch Post-Game Comments from Senior Assistant Captain Anthony Farinacci ...
