Hartford, Conn. – First-year Ryan Cole (Anchorage, Alaska) scored two third period goals and senior goalie Ben Coulthard (South Windsor, Conn.) made 32 saves to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 2-0 shutout win over the visiting Wesleyan University Cardinals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's ice hockey action this evening on Williams Rink at the Koeppel Community Sports Center. Trinity, ranked No. 9 in the nation, improves to 19-4 overall and 14-3 in the NESCAC, while Wesleyan drops to 11-10-2 overall and 6-10-1 in the league.
Approximately four minutes into the game, Trinity sophomore Michael Hawkrigg (Tonronto, Ontario) ripped a shot headed into a wide open goal, but Wesleyan rookie goaltender Dawson Sprigings (Toronto, Ontario) came up with an athletic glove save that surprised the arena and set the tone for the game. It was a goalie's dual all night, as Sprigings left the Trinity offense scratching their heads with a plethora of highlight reel saves. Trinity ripped 48 shots on net in the game, all but one stopped by Sprigings, with the other Trinity score coming on an empty-netter at the close of the game.
But Coulthard, who was put to the test in the third period, came up with several big saves of his own, finishing with 32 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the fifth of his career.
Cole, one of the nation's top scorers, broke a scoreless tie when he raced Wesleyan sophomore Eric Casey (Sunbury, Pa.) on a breakaway early in the third period, and while falling, managed to trickle a shot by Sprigings after being tripped on the play. The goal relieved mounting frustration on behalf of the Bantams, who were battling not only a hot goalie, but several unlucky breaks, including four shots off the post.
With under eight minutes to play, Wesleyan ticked off a spree of shots, but Coulthard kept the Trinity net squeaky clean. With just over a minute to play, the Wesleyan offense gave the home crowd another scare, but Coulthard came up with more heroics, as Trinity clung to their one-goal lead moments before Cole put the game out of reach with his 17th goal of the year, streaking up the left side of the sheet, and burying a shot on an empty net, sealing the 2-0 win.
Trinity will travel to Middletown tomorrow for a rematch with Wesleyan to end the regular season. The Bantams can clinch the top spot in the NESCAC, and home-ice advantage throughout playoffs, with a win tomorrow or with an Amherst loss or tie. Follow the game at athletics.trincoll.edu
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