PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Connecticut College men's ice hockey team scored the final three goals, before holding off a late push, to comeback and defeat host Johnson and Wales 4-3 on Saturday evening from Lynch Arena. With the win, Conn improves to 6-3-1, while JWU falls to 5-7-1 overall.
Conn dominated the opening 20 minutes of the contest, outshooting Johnson and Wales 12-3. The Camels recorded the first three shots of the evening, aided by an early power play, but were unable to capitalize, before the Wildcats forced the first save from Kellen Beauton (Colchester, Conn.) at the seven minute mark. Jake Inzirillo kept Conn at bay, as the teams were scoreless after one.
The scoring started early in the second period, as Harout Torosian found the back of the net off assists from Ryan Walsh and Cullen Hennessy to put JWU up 1-0 at 1:23. Just four minutes later, with Conn on a 5-on-3 advantage, the Camels tied the game. Rocco Testa-Basi (Holland Patent, N.Y.) and Logan Cleary (Mentor, Ohio) picked up assists on Steven Ardagna's (Roswell, Ga.) point shot that even the score.
With seven and a half minutes left, JWU retook the lead after Bret Beale's initial shot was blocked, before falling to Torosian who made it 2-1. Conn answered again, this time just under a minute and a half later, as Conrad Moline (Stoughton, Wis.) picked up a loose puck, before firing past Inzirillo to send the game to the third period tied at two.
JWU started the final frame strong, forcing two early saves from Beauton, who kept the game even. Conn had a golden opportunity to retake the lead, earning another 5-on-3 power play, but this time the Camels were unable to convert. With just over nine minutes remaining, Conn again went on the power play, and this time capitalized. Jack Luca (Milton, Mass.) fed Ardagna at the point, who fired towards the net, where Testa-Basi redirected home to make it 3-2 at 11:35. The Wildcats pulled Inzirillo with just under two minutes remaining, but Andrew Eberling (Mount Laurel, N.J.) fed John Russo (South Windsor, Conn.) who potted it into the empty net, to make it 4-2, before JWU scored with one second remaining as Conn came away with the 4-3 win.
Conn outshot JWU 35-14, while winning 39 of 63 draws.
Beauton picked up the win in goal, finishing with 11 saves. Ardagna and Testa-Basi paced the Camels with a goal and an assist each. Moline and Russo both added a goal, while Cleary, Eberling, and Luca all added one assist. Russo led the way in the face-off circle winning 12 draws, while Conn finished the contest 2-10 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill.
Inzirillo got the start in goal, finishing with 31 saves. Torosian led the way for JWU with three points on two goals and one assist, while five other Wildcats added one point. JWU finished the evening 0-3 on the power play and 8-10 on the penalty kill.
Conn returns home for the first time in over a month as the Camels host No. 10 Endicott College on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in Dayton Arena.
