HARTFORD - Tufts University freshman
Max Resnick scored a hat trick in his collegiate debut tonight, but the Jumbos were defeated 10-3 by 12th-ranked Trinity College in the season-opener for both NESCAC teams at Koeppel Community Sports Center.
Just one minute into the action, Jumbo junior defenseman
Sam Miller tapped the puck to Resnick at the red line along the left boards. He curled around into the Trinity zone, split two defenders and maintained control of the puck, then beat Trinity goalie J.P. Mella for a 1-0 Tufts lead.
The visitors would hold the advantage until 6:17 remained in the opening period. From behind the net Trinity's Casey Rhodes sent a pass to Paul Selleck out front and he scored evening the game at 1-1.
The Bantams would score three times in a 2:26 stretch to lead 3-1 at the end of one. Riley Prattson set up Christian Hayes in the slot at 14:53 of the first, then Devan Tongue tipped in a shot from the right point by Ned Blanchard at 16:21.
Trinity would increase its lead to 7-1 with four goals in the second period, including two on power plays. Gerrard Maretta just 44 seconds into the frame, John Campomenosi on a power play at 8:28, Richard Boysen at 17:41 and Maretta again on a power play at 19:53 scored the Bantam goals.
Resnick would score twice in the first 90 seconds of the third period to get his hat trick and pull Tufts within 7-3. The first came on a face off won back to him by
Brennan Horn 49 seconds into the third. Then Resnick picked up a failed clearing pass by Trinity in their own zone and snapped one past Mella from the slot at 1:33 of the period.
The hosts would end the Jumbo momentum with three more goals by Eric Sinson at 3:09, Jax Murray on a power play at 7:29 and from Tongue at 17:37.
Eight Trinity players scored in the game. Maretta (two goals, one assist), Murray (goal, two assists) and Spencer Korona (three assists each finished with three points. Mella made 20 saves.
Tufts played three goalies with
Peyton Durand making 13 saves,
Ryan Welch five and
Spencer Rose three.
The Jumbos return to action on Saturday at Wesleyan in a 3 pm start.
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