NEW LONDON, CT (February 7, 2024) - Connecticut College junior goalie Will McAvoy led a stand-out defensive effort by the Camels with a 41-save shutout as the hosts earned a 1-0 NESCAC win over Tufts University on Friday night.
The Jumbos out-shot the Camels 41-24, but could not get one past McAvoy who recorded his first career shutout. This included the final 90 seconds of regulation when Tufts played six-on-four with a power-play and their goalie pulled.
Tufts falls to 7-10-1 overall and 5-8 in NESCAC, holding on to sixth place in the league with 16 points. The victory ends an eight-game losing streak by Connecticut College, who improves to 7-11-1 and 5-8 in the conference. They are tied for eighth place with 15 points.
The lone goal of the game came on a Camel power play in the first period. During the possession, sophomore Quinn Kennedy zipped a pass from the left face-off dot through the slot to senior Jack Luca. From the low edge of the right circle Luca scored at 14:40 for the 1-0 advantage.
Tufts would dominate most of the remainder of the game. In the second period they outshot the Camels 17-6, including three short-handed shots during a Conn power play and then four more shots during their own power-play later in the period. McAvoy made each of those saves and had 17 in the middle stanza.
In the third period the Jumbos would out-shoot the Camels 13-7. After pulling goalie Gus Bylin with 1:55 remaining in the period, the Jumbos then took a six-on-four advantage due to a Camel penalty with 1:29 on the clock. McAvoy would make a flurry of saves in the closing seconds as Connecticut College survived for the win.
Bylin finished with 23 stops in the Jumbo net. Tufts had a total of 74 shot attempts to 40 by the Camels, and did not capitalize on four power-play opportunities.
The teams will meet again in Malden tomorrow afternoon to finish up their home-and-home series at Valley Forum. Puck-drop is 4 PM.
Â
--JUMBOS--
Â
