Box Score 
(Feature Photo Courtesy of Team Shred Photography)
MALDEN – Led by an Andrew Gunlock (pictured) hat trick, the Tufts University hockey team defeated the Middlebury College Panthers by a score of 4-1 in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament Friday night at Valley Forum.
With the victory, the #8 seeded Jumbos advance to the NESCAC Quarterfinal game at the #1 seed Colby College on Sunday, February 27 at 2 pm. Ninth-seed Middlebury's season ends.
For much of the first period, both defenses and goalies limited scoring opportunities to keep the score at 0-0, but it was Tufts that eventually got on the scoreboard first with just under three minutes to play in the period. Gunlock opened up the game with a rocket of a slapshot from the blue line that flew past Middlebury goalie Jake Horoho for the goal to make it 1-0 going into the second period. Both teams had a similar amount of chances in the first 20 minutes, with Middlebury outshooting the Jumbos 11-9, but it was Tufts that capitalized on their opportunity.
Tufts rode the momentum into the second period, scoring again almost seven minutes in on a wrap-around goal from freshman forward Harrison Bazianos. Bazianos controlled the puck on the right side of the net, looped around the back of the net and wound up for a hard shot that snuck past the left side of Horoho for the goal to give the Jumbos a 2-0 lead. Tufts played tight defense and goalie Josh Sarlo protected the lead with multiple solid saves, including four in the final 31 seconds of the period to enter the third without letting up any goals.
The Jumbos wasted no time making it 3-0, with Gunlock's second goal of the game coming just 2:17 into the third period. Mason Kohn won a faceoff in the Middlebury end to Justin Brandt, who passed it over to Gunlock at the left point. His blast gave the Jumbos a three-goal lead. The Tufts defense continued to shut down the Panthers, but with just over five minutes remaining, Middlebury got on the board with a Tucker Lamb one-time goal after he received a pass from Jin Lee in front of the net, cutting the deficit to two. Just a few minutes later, Middlebury found themselves on the power play and pulled their goalie to gain even more of a man-advantage. The Tufts defense did well to kill the penalty and hold the Panthers to just two shots before Gunlock capped off his hat trick with an empty net goal from deep in the Jumbos' end to seal the 4-1 victory.
Sarlo had a great performance, finishing the game with 32 saves while Horoho made 28 saves on 31 shots on net. The game was even in terms of shots on goal, as Middlebury finished with 33 compared to Tufts' 32. The Panthers won the face-off battle 46-29.
This was the Jumbos' third victory of the season against Middlebury, including 3-2 in Vermont on December 3 and 4-0 in Malden on January 28.
Written by Tim O'Brien, Athletic Communications Intern
