Pat Thompson rescues Seahawks in OT

EVERETT, Mass. – Junior Pat Thompson's (Hellertown, Pa.) third goal of the game, coming with two minutes remaining in overtime, lifted the Salve Regina ice hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Wentworth Institute of technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon.

With the win the Seahawks run their unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1), improving to 13-7-3 overall and 10-4-2 in CCC play while the Leopards dropped their fifth one-goal game of the season and stand at 4-1-53 overall and 2-11-2 in league play.

A scoreless first period saw both teams with scoring chances, however neither Wentworth junior Ryan Hubbard(West Roxbury, Mass.) nor sophomore Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.) would let the opposition take the lead. The Leopards had a 10-6 shot advantage.

Wentworth scored the lone goal of the second period, a period which saw the Black & Gold outshoot Salve Regina, 19-8. Senior Jake Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn.) put home his fifth of the season off passes from sophomoreMatthew Kennedy (Mount Pearl, N.L.) and junior Erik Andersson (Madison, N.J.).

At the 8:21 mark of the third period, the Seahawks tied the game when Thompson scored from sophomore Nick Cyr (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and sophomore Kyle Moore (Cumming, Ga.). Just over five minutes later Andersson gave Wentworth a 2-1 lead when he scored from Kennedy and Flynn.

The lead would not last long, however, as Thompson provided the tying goal just 52 seconds later when he was set up by senior Evan Schultz (Durham, N.H.) and Moore. Late in regulation, Salve Regina had chances to take the lead, however a pair of Hubbard saves and a pair of blocked shots kept the game tied. Despite being outscored 2-1 in the frame, Wentworth had a 10-7 shot advantage.

In overtime, both teams put two shots on net, however Thompson's last one sent the visitors home a winner as he took a shot which was deflected past Hubbard. Cyr and Schultz picked up helpers on the game-winning tally.

Wojtala made 39 saves in the win while Hubbard stopped 20 shots. Wentworth had a 41-23 shot advantage. Prior to the game, Flynn and Kyle LeBrun (West Bridgewater, Mass.) were honored as a part of Senior Day festivities.

Salve Regina hosts Johnson & Wales on Wednesday while Wentworth is at Becker on Thursday.