Henniker, N.H. - New England College outscored the visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards 5-2 in the final quarter of play lifting the Pilgrims to the 10-9 victory Tuesday afternoon. With the win the Pilgrims improve to 7-6 on the season and even their conference record at 4-4. With the loss the Leopards move to 6-5 overall and even their conference record at 4-4.
The Wentworth offense would come out on fire scoring the first four goals of the game to take a commanding 4-0 first quarter lead. NEC's
Matt Carey (Medford, N.Y.) would finally get the Pilgrims on the board late in the first quarter scoring a goal assisted by
Jacob Rice (Schenectady, N.Y.)
The Pilgrims would start the scoring in the second as
Clint McDonough (Mnt. Lakes, N.J.) would net a goal cutting the Leopard lead to 4-2. The Leopards would outscore the Pilgrims 3-2 in the final seven minutes of the half, including two goals by Chris Guilherme (Derry, N.H.) to head into halftime up 6-3.
The two teams would battle evenly through much of the third quarter as the Pilgrims would trail 8-5 heading into the final 13 minutes of play. The Pilgrims would score two goals within second of each other and midfielder Sam Freihofner (Scarsdale, N.Y.) would score a break-away goal at the 9:34 mark knotting the game at 8-8. NEC would take their first lead of the game just minutes later as
John Gabriel (W, Nyack, N.Y.) would score assisted by
Matt Carey with 4:48 remaining in regulation. Gabriel and Carey would hook up again just under a minute later as the Pilgrims would convert on a man-up opportunity and grab the 10-8 lead.
Wentworth's Chris Guilherme would score with 52 seconds remaining for the Leopards but it would not be enough as the Pilgrims would hold on for the 10-9 victory.
Leading the way for NEC was
John Gabriel who finished with four goals. NEC's
Matt Carey scored twice and dished out two assists, while
Clint McDonough finished with two goals and an assist for the Pilgrims.
Leading the way for Wentworth was Chris Guilherme who netted four goals. Wentworth's Bill Berringer (Marblehead, Mass.) and Matt Cox (Granger, Ind.) each netted two goals and had an assist for the Leopards.
Picking up the win in goal for NEC was
Nick Acquaviva (Syracuse, N.Y.) who stopped 18 shots on the afternoon. In net for Wentworth was Sean Tobin (Silver Springs, Md.) who finished with nine saves.
