MILTON, Mass.- In an ECAC Northeast Conference match-up in men's ice hockey action on Saturday evening in Milton, Mass, Curry College defeated Johnson & Wales, 6-3. With the win, the Colonels improved to 8-8-2 overall and 4-2-2 in the conference. The Wildcats fell to 7-11-1 overall and 3-4-1 in the ECAC Northeast.
Curry had a demanding lead in shots in the opening frame. The Colonels outshot the Wildcats 23-6. Johnson & Wales senior goaltender Matt Cooper (Perrysburg, Ohio) was solid between the pipes. Curry finally got on the board with just under two minutes remaining in the period. The Wildcats were called for interference and the Colonels took advantage of the man-up situation. Twenty-seven seconds into the power-play, senior Ian DeLong (Kutztown, Pa.) one-timed the puck right outside the slot. DeLong was assisted by seniors Connor Hendry (Calgary, Alberta) and Brett Kaneshiro (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).
The Wildcats were able to tie the game just five minutes into the second period on their own power-play. After the Colonels were called for roughing, Johnson & Wales won the face off in Curry’s defensive zone. Freshman Aaron Arm (Plantation, Fla.) sent a pass over to sophomore Alex Porrier (Rutland, Vt.). Porrier saw senior Jason Pietrasiak (Shrewsbury, Mass.) open in front of the net. Pietrasiak took a slap shot that sailed over the shoulder of Curry’s senior netminder Joe Dawson (Woodbury, Minn.). The Colonels took back the lead 1:38 minutes later. Sophomore Jordan Reed (Ajax, Ontario) netted his first of two on the night. Freshmen Ben Bauer (Lancaster, Pa.) and Frankie Posillico (Massapequa, N.Y.) were credited with the assists. Curry tallied one more before the end of the second with just 14 seconds left on the board. Reed scored his second on another Colonel man-up situation. Kaneshiro and Posillico were awarded the assists. Curry held a slight advantage in shots with 18, while Johnson & Wales had 16.
The final period saw Curry score three goals in the first five minutes. Johnson & Wales netted two of their own to cut the Colonels lead, but it wasn’t enough as Curry earned the 6-3 victory. Freshman Ryan Gay (Nesconset, N.Y.) started the scoring off when he tapped the puck just past the glove of Cooper for his first collegiate goal. Kaneshiro and Reed had the assists. Senior Casey Brugman (Winthrop, Mass) got his teams’ fifth on the night just two minutes after Gays. The Colonels won the face-off at center ice and skated into the Wildcats defensive zone. Brugman received a pass from Posillico and junior Mike Lopez (Newton, Mass.). Johnson & Wales took a time out to regroup and change goaltenders. Sophomore Brad Atkinson (Huntington Beach, Calif.) replaced Cooper to finish out the game. The first shot Atkinson faced was a score by DeLong, 47 seconds in. DeLong collected a loose puck right in front of the net and was able to maneuver around Atkinson. Posillico earned his third assist and sophomore Braeden Ruud (Vermillion, Alberta) had the secondary. The Wildcats finished with the last two goals of the game. Their second of the night was off another power-play situation. Freshman Cody Sarmiento (Sarasota, Fla.) took a hard shot from the point that went right into the back of the net. Junior Eddie Patterson (Cinnaminson, N.J.) and freshman Daniel Chang (Woodland Hills, Calif.) were on the assists. At the 15:15 minute mark senior Danny Kaufman (Scotch Plains, N.J.) produced the last point for Johnson & Wales. Pietrasiak got his second point with having the assist.
The Colonels went 2 for 10 on power-plays, while the Wildcats went 2 for 9.
Curry's Dawson made 35 saves in goal for the win. Cooper made 41 saves, allowing five goals in 43:20 minutes in net for the Wildcats. Atkinson made 12 saves, allowing just one goal in 16:40 minutes.
Curry's next game is away at New England College on January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Johnson & Wales hosts ECAC Northeast opponent, Salve Regina on Wednesday, January 30 for a 6:45 p.m. game start.
