Hockey Knocks off ECAC Northeast Conference Foe Western New England, 4-2

Hockey Knocks off ECAC Northeast Conference Foe Western New England, 4-2
Posted: Feb 01, 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Jordan Reed scored two goals and had an assist to lead Curry College past Western New England University, 4-2, in Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast men's hockey action on Saturday at Blunt Park/Smead Rink.

Sophomore Ryan Taylor and junior assistant captain Brandon Stroud scored for the Golden Bears, who fall below the .500-mark for the first time this season at 9-10 overall (3-5 ECAC Northeast).

Curry's Brandon Gilmore snapped a 2-2 tie with his eighth goal on a feed from Ellery O'Hara with 3 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the game. Gilmore's first shot on goal was saved and then he backhanded the rebound into the back of the net.

Curry scored three goals in a third period in which it outshot WNE by a 24-1 margin. James Murphy scored his third goal on a Jordan Reed assist to tie it 2-2 at the 5:27 mark. Gilmore later earned the game-winning goal and Reed scored a shorthanded goal on an empty-net with 1 second left to seal the victory.

After Reed gave Curry a 1-0 lead midway through the first stanza, Taylor potted his fifth goal with 5:51 left to even the score. Senior defenseman Rance Vukovic and junior assistant captain Matt Dore picked up assists on the play.

In the second period, Stroud deposited his eighth tally to give the Golden Bears a 2-1 lead at the 8:08 mark. Taylor and junior Joe Budnick were credited with the assists.

Senior goalie Eric Sorenson made 35 saves in the WNE goal while on the other end of the ice Derek Mohney stopped 17 Golden Bears shots to improve to 6-5-1 on the season.

Western New England coach Greg Heffernan pulled Sorenson for the final 1:03 in favor of an extra attacker. One second after a WNE timeout with 27 seconds left, Curry's Mike Apreda was given a 2-minute minor penalty for boarding that put the Golden Bears on the power play for the second time on the evening. The Colonels, however, were able to fend off what was essentially a two-man disadvantage and escape with the victory.

Curry enjoyed a 39 to 19 shots on goal advantage for the contest.

Western New England is back in action on Wednesday at ECAC Northeast opponent Becker College, starting at 5:30 p.m. Curry hosts Nichols College on Thursday, February 6 in a 6:40 p.m. game.  (Game recap courtesy of Western New England Sports Information)