Hartford, Conn. - After a strong veteran performance in last night's win over Tufts, it was the underclassmen to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 3-1 win over the Connecticut College Camels in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action this afternoon on Williams Rink in the Koeppel Community Sports Center.  Trinity improves to 8-4-3 overall and 5-2-3 in the league, while Conn. College drops to 4-8-3 overall and 1-6-3 in the NESCAC.

The game started with an unusual goal by Connecticut College.  Freshman Brett Curran (Wilmette, Ill.) took a shot from just inside the blue line, which floated its way to the Trinity net, sneaking past Trinity freshman goalie Nathaniel Heilbron (West Vancouver, British Columbia), who appeared to be screened on the play.

Later in the period, back-to-back Trinity penalties gave the Camels a five-on-three advantage, but Trinity's power play unit came up with a strong shift to escape the jam.   The Bantams ended the period with a great opportunity in the final minute - a shot by senior tri-captain Chris Menard (Burlington, Mass.), but Connecticut freshman goalie Tom Conlin (Norwood, Mass.) made a noteworthy deflection to preserve the lead.

Trinity carried their late first period adrenaline into the second, tying the game at 1-1 just five minutes in.  Freshman Elie Vered (Ottawa, Ontario) scored his second goal in as many days on a perfectly placed puck by classmate John Hawkrigg (Toronto, Ontario).  The Camels attempted to re-gain the lead with a scoring bid by freshman Tim DiPretoro (Philadelphia, Penn.), but Heilbron's sliding pad save protected the tie. 

Early in the third, Trinity sophomore Conor Coveney (Hingham, Mass.) came up with what turned out to be the game-winning goal.    With a 2-1 lead, the Trinity defense did not soften, and the Camels made sure to test the home team.  Midway through the third, Connecticut freshman Sebastian Meltzer (Montreal, Quebec) ripped a shot off the post.  Moments later, freshman Stephan Brennan (Winchester, Mass.) made another attempt at tying the game, before an outstretched Heilbron came up with a key kick save.  Sophomore Jackson Brewer (Newton, Mass.) put the finishing touch on the game with an empty net goal for the Bantams. 

Watch Conor Coveney score his first career goal

Heilbron made 35 saves to move to 2-0 in net for the Bantams, while Conlin came up with 34 saves in an evenly matched game.  The Bantams had a slight, 37-36, edge in shots this afternoon.

"Tonight was a great performance by the Trinity hockey program," Head Coach Matt Greason said after the game.  "We willed our way to a great weekend against two very good opponents."

Box score