PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Curry College Hockey team fell to Johnson & Wales, 5-2 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. on Thursday evening.

Records:

Curry: 7-10-2, 3-6-1 ECACNE

Johnson & Wales: 9-7-3, 5-3-2 ECACE

Goalkeepers:

CC: Brett Sinclair: 28 Saves, 4 Goals, 6-8-1 Record

JWU: Joey Ballmer: 21 Saves, 2 Goals, 9-7-2 Record

JWU Statistical Leaders:

Connor Bates: 3 Goals

Cody Sarmiento: 3 Assists

Stefan Brucato: 2 Assists

Curry Statistical Leaders:

Jake Heisinger: 1 Goal, 1 Assist

The Lead:

Johnson & Wales scored four unanswered goals during just over 20 minutes of play that spanned three periods. Scoring two of his three goals during that time was junior Connor Bates (Laconia, NH). Johnson & Wales has won four of its last five games to move into fourth place in the ECAC Northeast standings.

Of Note:

Bates put the Wildcats up 2-1 in the second when he took a pass from Cody Sarmiento (Sarasota, Fla.) and beat CC goalie Brett Sinclair on the right side. Eleven seconds into the third period, Stefan Brucato (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) skated behind the Curry goal and centered a pass to Bates, whose one-timer found the back of the net. His final goal was an empty netter late in the third period.

Bates is the first Wildcat to record a hat trick since Ian DePasquale did it against Curry on February 23, 2013 in the ECAC quarterfinals. His 15 goals lead the ECAC Northeast and are the most since Josh Obregon had 17 in 2013-14.

Johnson & Wales got two of its first three goals on the power play. Trailing 1-0 with four seconds left in the first period, Sarmiento found Michael Mazzotta (Mars, Pa.) at the point and he fired the puck past Sinclair to tie the game. Ben Brouillard (Somerset, Mass.) scored the eventual game-winner at the 14:20 mark of the second period when he put back the rebound of Jonathan Ruiz's (Williamstown, NJ) shot.

Sarmiento tied a career-high with three assists. He had three helpers against Suffolk on March 1, 2014. Brucato also had a pair of assists.

Both of Curry's goals came on put backs. Eight minutes into the first period, Joey Ballmer (Kalamazoo, Mich.) stopped Mack Heisinger's shot, but his older brother Jake was there for the rebound. Zachary White scored 4:50 into the third period on a put back of Shane Harrington's shot to pull the Colonels within 4-2.

Up Next:

Johnson & Wales is back on their home ice at Lynch Arena Saturday for a 7:20 p.m. faceoff against Wentworth. The two teams skated to a 0-0 tie on November 11.  Curry will travel to Becker College on Saturday in an ECAC Northeast match-up at 4:50 p.m.  (Game recap courtesy of Johnson & Wales University)