NORTHFIELD — University of New England used a late power-play goal to earn a 2-1 victory over Norwich during the title game of the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament.
The Cadets put the pedal to the metal early in the battle between two nationally ranked program and outshot the Nor’easters 9-1 in the first 10 minutes, but UNE netminder Billy Girard kept the game scoreless. Despite all of Norwich’s offensive zone pressure, it was the Nor’easters who broke through first. Anthony Sciucco made an outlet pass from his defensive zone along the left wing boards to Juraj Elias midway through the first period and Elias centered the puck in front to Ryan Kuzmich as he was driving toward the net for the opening goal on UNE’s second shot of the game.
Norwich kept pressing after falling behind, but the Nor’easters found some time in their offensive zone. A brief flurry of opportunities by the visitors resulted in NU goalie Sami Molu making a number of stops while defenseman Matt Harvey blocked three shots in quick succession for the Cadets.
The Cadets kept pressing and drew a man advantage with just over a minute to play in the opening frame. Early in the power play, Bryan O’Mara took a wrist shot from the slot that was turned away by Girard. A second chance by Norwich’s Johnny Johnson was also denied, but the third chance by Jed Brazo tied the game with 44 seconds on the clock.
Early in the second period, the Cadets were granted another power play. But this time Girard and the Nor’easter penalty kill did not budge. As the period wore on, UNE started to generate more momentum in its offensive end. Late in the frame, UNE earned its first power play of the game and fired off five shots, but Molu was up to the task and kept the game tied after 40 minutes.
The Nor’easter momentum continued into the third period, as they kept the Cadets without a shot in the first seven minutes of the frame. The pressure eventually led to their second power play of the period with 5:30 remaining. After a blocked shot was kept alive at the blueline by Jacob Pellerin, he sent the puck to the corner. Logan DiScanio settled the puck and then gave it off to Dominic Murphy, who circled to the left faceoff dot and roofed a wrist shot over Molu’s blocker to put UNE in front.
Norwich got two more power play opportunities late in the game, including one with Molu pulled for the extra attacker. However, they came up empty during each chance.
“I’m disappointed with the result, but I thought there were a lot of positives from the weekend,” Norwich coach Cam Ellsworth said. “I’m looking forward to using this help grow together as a group.”
Norwich will return to New England Hockey Conference action with four straight games on home ice, starting with Friday’s 7 p.m. clash against Southern Maine.
COLLEGE WRESTLING
Castleton first
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The seventh-ranked Vermont State University Castleton wrestling program continued to turn heads on Saturday, winning its fourth tournament of the season with a first-place finish at the Citrus Invitational in Fort Lauderdale.
VTSU Castleton racked up 16 top-eight finishers at the Citrus Invitational with another 14 wrestlers placing inside the top 16 of their weight class overall. The four champions were Gavin Bradley (125), Drew Marchese (133), Elijah Cyr (149) and Sampson Wilkins (184). Nicholas Roeger (165) and Darby McLaughlin (197) each made the title bout in their weight class to claim a second-place finish.
James Rodriguez (141), Nathaniel Camiscioli (157), Connor Gregory (165) and Abbas Abdulrahman (285) all finished third with Haven Tatarek (197) finishing fourth. Kaya Bogle (133), Jashon Holmes (149) and Evan Day (285) were fifth-place finishers and Caleb Rojas (174) and Shea Garand (285) placed seventh each.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Castleton 76, RPI 59
CASTLETON — The Vermont State University Castleton women’s basketball team was victorious in its return to action on Saturday afternoon, engineering a 76-59 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Glenbrook Gym.
The Spartans (7-4) were led by Elise Magro’s 26 points and Liz Bailey’s 21-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Bailey dropped in 8 of 14 with a pair of 3s on the day and a trio of blocked shots. Stasia Epler added 12 points with two 3s. Emily Adams dished out five assists and grabbed eight rebounds while Arianna Coombs grabbed six boards in only 14 minutes.
The two sides traded scores going into halftime, with the Spartans leading 32-28 at the midway mark.
VTSU Castleton is back in action on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. when it returns to Little East Conference play against Keene State at Glenbrook Gym.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
SUNY Purchase 74, Castleton 52
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Vermont State University Castleton men’s basketball team landed a runner-up finish at the Dr. Carol V. Decosta Tournament hosted by Medgar Evars on Saturday, falling in the tournament’s title game to SUNY Purchase, 74-52.
Joe Russell tallied 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the team in both categories. He also had three assists and two steals and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Scott Lampron scored 10 points and added five rebounds while Leonard Brice chipped in eight points off the bench on 4-of-8 shooting. Will Radcliff had seven points and a pair of blocks in the contest.
Castleton (4-7) returns to Little East Conference action on Wednesday against Keene State.
SMC 94, Queens 90
FLUSHING, N.Y. — The Saint Michael’s College men’s basketball team knocked off Queens (N.Y.) College, 94-90, on Saturday in South Gym.
The Purple Knights received votes toward the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national poll and were fourth in the most recent D2CSC East Region rankings.
Darrel Yepdo led the Purple Knights with 23 points.
