BOSTON, Mass. – The Connecticut College men's ice hockey team exploded for four goals in the second period, as the Camels held on to defeat Southern New Hampshire University 6-4 in the opening game of the Boston Landing Invitational at the Warrior Ice Arena on Saturday night.
Conn came out of the gates quickly, opening the scoring just 59 seconds into the contest. Quinn Kennedy (Silver Spring, Md.) connected with Will Lawrence (Bethesda, Md.) who fired a shot on net that was stopped, however the rebound fell right to Matt Lewis (Pembroke, Mass.) who fired home to make it 1-0.
SNHU answered back just over a minute later as Kurt Watson evened the score at 2:06. The teams traded chances until the Camels jumped back in front with a short-handed marker at 14:03. Wade Volo (North Conway, N.H.) fed Rocco Testa-Basi (Ottawa, Ontario) on a two-on-one but his shot was stopped, but the rebound fell to Steven Ardagna (Roswell, Ga.) who fired home to send Conn in front 2-1 after one.
The offenses exploded in the middle period, as the teams combined for six goals. Ryan McKenna (Garden City, N.Y.) pushed the lead to 3-1 at 2:17, converting off a feed from Kareem Alazem (McLean, Va.). The Penmen answered with a goal from Gabe Fisher at 8:03, before Watson's second goal tied the game 20 seconds later.
With just under five minutes left in the frame, Conn retook the lead with a power play marker. Jack Houser (Arlington, Mass.) was able to finish off a scramble around the net front as Logan Cleary (Mentor, Ohio) and McKenna picked up the assists. Just over two minutes later, Lawrence converted on another power play opportunity to make it 5-3 at 17:36. 11 seconds later, McKenna fed a pass to Reece Cordray (Verona, Wis.) who fired off the post and in to put the Camels in front 6-3 heading to the third.
Each side had chances through the opening minutes of the final period, but both Will McEvoy (Ottawa, Ontario) and Sean Guerin kept the score as is. SNHU cut the deficit to 6-4 as Ryan Kayser found the back of the net at 16:40. The Penmen pulled Guerin with a minute and a half remaining for the extra skater. However, the Camels defense hunkered down, closing out the final moments as Conn earned the 6-4 win.
SNHU outshot Conn 41-36, while the Camels held a slim 33-30 edge on face-off wins.
McEvoy picked up the win in goal, finishing with 37 saves. McKenna Paced Conn with three points on one goal and two assists, as both Cordray and Lawrence added a goal and an assist each, while eight other Camels added one point. Lewis led the way with eight face-off wins, as Conn went 2-4 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill, adding a short-handed goal.
Guerin got the start in goal, recording 29 saves. Watson led the way with two goals, while Brendan Lynch and Jim Minnig each added two assists. The Penmen finished 0-3 on the power play and 2-4 on the penalty kill.
Conn (5-3-1, 2-3-1 NESCAC) advances to the championship game of the Boston Landing Invitational as the Camels take on Nichols at 2:40 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Mass.
