MILTON, Mass.- In a non-conference match-up in men's ice hockey action on Thursday night at the Max Ulin Rink, Curry College defeated Westfield State, 3-2 in overtime. With the win, the Colonels move to 1-2 on the season. The Owls fell to 2-1 overall.
The Colonels were the first to get on the board just midway through the first period. Junior Brian White (Santa Ana, Calif.) netted his first goal of the season when he one-timed the puck over the shoulder of the Owl's senior netminder Ian Perrier (Whitehorse, YT). White was assisted by senior Jordan Reed (Ajax, Ontario) and freshman Adam Valadao. Just over two minutes later Westfield tallied one of their own to tie the game. Freshman Cody Campbell-Rich (Bellingham, Wash.) took a slap shot just over the blueline that sailed past Curry's sophomore goaltender Brett Sinclair (St. Catharines, Ontario). Sophomore Maxime Richard (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec) and freshman Josh Finkelstein (Torrance, Calif.) were credited with the assists. The Owls took over the lead with just under five minutes remaining heading into intermission. Sophomore Jackson Leef (Fort Wayne, Ind.) collected a loose puck in front of the net and sent it into the back of the goal. Leef's score would be the Owls final on the night. Campbell-Rich and Richard were on the assists.
The team's matched each other in shots in second frame at 12 apiece. The game remained tied until the 13:02 minute mark when Valladao netted his first of the match. Freshman Shane Tracy (Bow, N.H.) won the face-off in the Owls defensive zone for the Colonels. Junior Ryan Gay (Nesconset, N.Y.) sent a pass to an open Valladao for the score. Strong play between the pipes by Sinclair held Westfield to just two goals.
The third period saw both netminders making 12 stops each to keep the game tied at two. After a scoreless 20 minutes the squads were forced to play five minute sudden death overtime. Curry earned the opening face-off and Westfield struggled to get it out of their zone. Perrier made a great save in the first minute of play off a shot from the Colonel's sophomore Michael Vallescuro (Woodbridge, Ontario). Curry was relentless and at the 1:48 minute mark Vallescuro assisted on the Colonel's game-winning tally. Vallescuro and sophomore James Murphy (Malden, Mass.) helped on Tracy's first-collegiate goal.
Curry went 0-4 on power plays while Westfield was 0-2. Both teams finished with 40 shots.
Curry's Sinclair made 38 saves in net in for the win. Perrier came up with 37 stops for Westfield in the loss.
Curry's next game is at home against ECAC Northeast opponent Nichols College on Saturday, November 8 at 4:40 p.m. Westfield is next in action on Tuesday, November 11 when they host MASCAC opponent Framingham State in a 7:35 p.m. game start.
