The ice hockey team wrapped up its season last weekend with a win and a loss on home ice. The Jumbos edged out visiting Wesleyan (5-4) on Friday evening, but lost by a 3-9 decision to third-place Trinity on Saturday. Tufts finished its inaugural season tenth in the NESCAC at 4-15 (6-17 overall) - not enough for a playoff berth.
The Jumbos could not ride its Friday night high into Saturday afternoon, and lost in dismal fashion to the Bantams. Trinity scored its first at 1:39 into the match, and the onslaught did not cease until the final whistle sounded. The Bantam offense led 5-0 after the first period, and the more impressive Bantam defense did not allow a shot on goal in the frame.
Trinity scored three more unanswered goals in the second stanza, pushing ahead to an 8-0 lead. The Jumbos finally got on the board at 14:54 of the third, when freshman Matt Kniaz deposited an unassisted goal. Freshman Gino Rotondi - Tufts' third leading scorer - and junior co-captain Chris Martin then scored goals within the next three minutes to close the margin to 8-3. Martin finished the season with 13 points. Trinity sweetened its win with a final tally at 18:47 in the game.
Trinity clearly overpowered the Jumbos in shots, bombarding the team's defense with 55 shots on the night in comparison to Tufts' 17. Murphy used his arsenal of goalies against the Bantams, starting with Kell, who made 14 saves. Sophomore Ben Crapser relieved Kell and deflected 27 shots, before senior Jeremy Zuniga entered the game for his second time this season, finishing off the day with five clears.
The night before, the squad finished off the Cardinals in a 5-4, back-and-forth match-up. The win was the team's second consecutive victory and fourth win in the NESCAC. Tufts finished the season just a slot behind the 5-14 Cardinals.
Freshman John Hurd commanded Tufts' offense with two goals and two assists. He completed his rookie season leading the Jumbos with 15 goals and was second in scoring with 25 points.
Tufts found the net first when freshman Brandon Hays scored at 7:35 in the first. Wesleyan sophomore Casey Benny responded promptly with his fifth goal of the season at 10:57, deadlocking the teams at 1-1 after the first period. Carceo scored his fourteenth of the year just 16 seconds into the second period, but was mimicked shortly after by a Rob Weller goal for the Cardinals. Hurd notched his first of the evening at 17:38 of the second to move his team to a 3-2 lead heading into the third frame.
At 6:12 of the third, Wesleyan scored back-to-back goals and took the lead (4-3) for the first time. However, freshman Shawn Sullivan answered six minutes later with a tally of his own to even the score at 4-4. Sullivan boasted 20 points this season (8 g, 12 a). At 14:25, Hurd secured the win for his squad after he intercepted the puck in the Cardinals' zone and lifted one over Wesleyan goalie Jim Panczykowski.
The team held onto its 5-4 lead for the remaining minutes and clinched the win. Senior goaltender Ian Kell made 26 saves on the night.
