Late Surge Lifts Ice Hawks Past WNEC 3-2

Marlboro, Mass.- Becker College scored two goals in the final 3:04 of the third period, as the Hawks defeated Western New England College 3-2 in ECAC Northeast men's hockey action Wednesday evening.

Becker got one the board at 8:12 of the first period when Mark Lotito (Staten Island, NY) scored into the top right corner of the net on a wrist shot. Lotito was set up by Dan Kane (Staten Island, NY) and Brian Murray (Manalapan, NJ.). The Golden Bears tied the game on a power play goal off the stick of Rory Hansen (Noblesville, IN.) with 2:47 remaining in the period.

Western New England scored the lone goal of the second period when Kory Grahl (San Diego, Calif.) set up Rory Hansen for his second goal of the game, giving the Golden Bears a 2-1 lead at the second intermission.

The Golden Bears had an opportunity to increase their lead to 3-1 when John Lineberry (Henniker, NH.) was tripped up on a breakaway opportunity, setting up a penalty shot. Lineberry drove down the ice and tried to score on Becker goalie Jake Rosenthal's (Wantagh, NY) left side, but Rosenthal made a brilliant leg pad save, keeping the Hawks within one goal. The Hawks took advantage when Brian Murray tied the game 53 seconds later. Becker completed their late surge when David Graham (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) scored the game winner with 1:37 remaining in the game.

Western New England goalie Eric Sorenson (Rochester, NY.) made 31 saves in a losing effort. With the loss the Golden Bears fell to 3-3-1 overall and 1-2 in the ECAC Northeast. Jake Rosenthal made 24 saves for Becker as the Hawks improved their record to 3-4-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the ECAC Northeast.