Box Score 
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Senior Tom Tresca's power play goal with a bit more than a minute remaining in the first period stood-up as the game-winner on Friday night as the Tufts hockey team prevailed 3-2 at Middlebury College.
All five goals tonight were scored in the last 10 minutes of the first period. With the game tied at 2-2, Tresca blasted a one-timer from the top of the left face-off circle to give Tufts the lead with 1:11 remaining in the opening stanza. The goal was the second of the season for the Jumbo defenseman, who had also assisted an earlier score.
Middlebury was playing its first game of the season after COVID-19 issues caused the postponement of the first few weeks of their season. However, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead when Antoine Belisle won a face-off back to Jin Lee. He moved into the slot and then slid a pass to Billy Dobensky who snapped a shot in at 10:09 of the first period.
Tufts answered immediately. Though Middlebury won the ensuing face-off, the Jumbos soon had a two-on-one where Mason Kohn's shot was saved by Panther goalie Adam Wisco. Kohn retrieved the rebound and passed to Justin Brandt who sent the puck to the front of the net where Cam Newton was there to tip it home just 14 seconds after Middlebury's goal.
The Jumbos would take a 2-1 lead on another power play strike by Angus Scott at 11:49 of the first. Setting up the play up top, sophomore defenseman Sam Miller passed to Tresca low in the left face-off circle. He slid a pass across the front of the goal where Scott redirected it past Wisco for his third of the year.
Two minutes later, Middlebury tied it when another face-off victory by Belisle resulted in a goal. This time Zach Shapiro scored from the top of the left circle at 13:33 making it 2-2.
After Tresca gave Tufts the 3-2 lead late in the first, Jumbo senior goalie Josh Sarlo (pictured) took over from there. He made eight saves in the second period and 12 in the third to seal the victory for Tufts.
EMack Bentley had a chance from the doorstep for the Panthers in the opening minutes of the second period, but was turned aside by Sarlo. The best opportunity for the visitors came while shorthanded, as Fisher Shea rang a shot off the left post on a 2-on-1.
In the final 20 minutes, Middlebury had a good bid to tie the game with Dobensky sliding a pass into the slot where Shapiro redirected it on net and Sarlo turned it away. With just under two minutes left in the contest, Andrej Hromic fired a shot from the right side that Sarlo steered away with his blocker. The Panthers pulled Wisco in the final minute for an extra attacker, but were unable to get the equalizer.
Sarlo finished with 29 saves overall. Scott and Kohn both won 10 face-offs for Tufts, while sophomore defenseman Jack Hughes blocked three shots. The Jumbos scored twice on four power play chances.
Middlebury's Wisco was also perfect in the second and third periods, combining for 17 of his 25 saves in those two frames. The Panthers had a slim 31-28 advantage in shots.
The Jumbos continue on to Williams College for NESCAC action tomorrow starting at 4 PM.
Portion of press release courtesy of Middlebury College
