The men’s hockey team heads into tonight’s home opener against UMass Boston (2-3-0) after an up-and-down 2-2 start, featuring wins against NESCAC rivals Hamilton and Connecticut College.
Scott Burns ’09 netted the go-ahead goal with under five minutes to play in the season opener at Hamilton, leading the Cardinals to a 4-3 victory in a wild game.
Dan Sullivan ’11 opened the scoring late in the first period with a goal in his first collegiate game, off assists from Burns and Mike Dorsey ’08. Hamilton quickly responded with a tying goal, but David Layne ’10 found the back of the net with just eight seconds remaining in the period to put the Cards back in the lead.
With Burns watching from the penalty box early in the second period, Hamilton again tied up the game. Later in the period, the Continentals notched up another goal, taking the lead for the first time.
Wesleyan fought back with an early third period goal from J.J. Evans ’09, before the eventual game-winner from Burns. Returning first team NESCAC goaltender Mike Palladino ’09 stopped 26 of 29 shots on his way to the victory.
“The win was extremely important; not only did we pick up NESCAC points, it definitely instilled confidence in our team,” Dorsey said.
The following night against Amherst the Cardinals were unable to get anything going, falling 4-0. Six different players spent a combined 30 minutes in the penalty box, leading to two Amherst power play goals. Once again, the team got a solid effort from Palladino, who stopped 34 of 37 shots, with Amherst adding an empty-net goal.
This past Saturday the Cardinals took the ice in the John Dunham Tournament, against host Trinity College. The Bantams set the tone early, going up 1-0 just 29 seconds into the game. Woody Redpath ’10 scored his first goal of the season to even the score later in the period, but it was all the offense the Cardinals would manage.
Trinity opened up the second period much like the first, scoring a goal in the first minute. The Bantams increased the lead with another goal later in the period. An empty-netter put the game at the final score of 4-1.
In the third place game on Sunday the Cards took down Conn. College 3-1. Redpath scored the first goal of the game on assists from Burns and Ryan Zemel ’10. Derek Davidson ’08 added to the lead in the second period, scoring just eight seconds after exiting the penalty box.
The Camels surged back with a goal midway through the third period, but Palladino held off the attack for the remainder of the game. Zemel added an empty-net goal late to give the Cardinals the 3-1 victory.
Through the first four games, Redpath leads the team with four points, tied for sixth in the NESCAC. Palladino sports a 2.39 goals against average, also good for sixth in the league. Seven different players have scored a goal and 13 have notched up a point through the first four games, perhaps a sign that the new system implemented this off-season is paying off.
“It has some kinks in it, hence the loss to Amherst,” Dorsey said. “But it gives us the potential to do very well in the league.”
After tonight’s game against UMass Boston, a team the Cardinals beat 4-1 last season, Wesleyan continues its home stand against Babson (4-0-1) on Saturday.
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