Two Losses For Camels In Hockey Openers

The Connecticut College ice hockey teams couldn't pull off a win in their season openers on Friday, falling to Wesleyan University and Trinity College. The following information was provided by William Tomasian, sports information director at Connecticut College:

Men's Ice Hockey: Wesleyan 6, Conn College 1

Behind sophomore Nik Tasiopoulos's (Norwell, Mass.) second career hat trick, Wesleyan University earned a 6-1 victory against Connecticut College in men's ice hockey action Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Connecticut College freshman Marc Roper (Moncton, New Brunswick) accounted for the Camel offense with a third period goal. Seniors Sean Curran (Wilmette, Ill.) and J.J. McGregor (Wichita, Kan.) assisted on the tally.

Wesleyan junior net-minder Matt Hadge (Canton, Mass.) made 20 saves to earn the win for the Cardinals. Senior Andrew Margolin (Mahwah, N.J.) stopped seven shots in the first two periods and was relieved by Mike Petchonka (Ridgefield, Conn.), who recorded 14 saves for the Camels.

The Camels will visit Trinity College Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. NESCAC game in Hartford, Conn.

Women's Ice Hockey: Trinity 3, Conn College 1

The ninth ranked Trinity College women's hockey team skated to a 3-1 victory at Connecticut College in the NESCAC and season opener for both teams played at Dayton Arena Friday night. Sophomore Alexa Pujol (New Canaan, Conn.) made 40 saves to lead the Bantams to the win.

Sarah Duncan (Dedham, Mass.), Abby Ostrom (Carlisle, Mass.) and Rebecca Rosen (Syosset, N.Y.) tallied scores for the visitors.

Connecticut College sophomore Courtney Dumont (Lewiston, Maine) accounted for the Camel score in the third period of action.

Amy Leichliter (West Chester, Pa.) stopped 14 shots for the hosts. Kelsie Fralick (West Chester, Pa.) contributed one save in 3:33 of action in the opening period.

The Camels pressured Trinity in the latter stages of the opening period. Dumont made a nifty looking bid with a backhanded shot at 14:17 of the first but the shot was saved by Pujol. Later on with 3:55 remaining, Dumont took a lead pass from Paige Murray (Andover, Mass.) and tried to go top shelf but Pujol was able to climb the ladder to make the save near the crossbar.

The Bantams finally got on the board with 2:33 remaining in the first. Duncan re-directed a shot by Samantha Edelson (Northbrook, Ill.) from the point to put the visitors on top 1-0.

In the closing moments of the first period, Leichliter broke up a pair of one-on-one situations to keep the game close. With 1:45 remaining, Leichliter denied Brigitte Cellino (Buffalo, N.Y.) with a point-blank stop. Then, with 15 seconds left, Leichliter made another stop to the near post side on Emily Kleidon (Oakdale, Minn.) to thwart the Bantams on another prime scoring chance.

In the middle period, the visitors nearly doubled their lead when Lauren Glynn (Arlington, Mass.) went to her backhand for a shot with 7:05 remaining, but Leichliter was able to make the stop. Later on in the frame with three minutes left, Murray made a cross crease connection with first year forward Justina Germano (Ashburnham, Mass.) but the shot went just wide of the goal.

But with 1:57 remaining in the second, Ostrom was able to break free in the neutral zone and flip one in from her backhand to vault the Bantams out to a 2-0 advantage.

Rosen added an insurance marker at 2:12 of the third to make it a 3-0 game. Dumont was able to get the Camels on the board, burying a slap shot from the slot with 12:17 remaining. But Pujol was able to keep the Camels off the scoreboard from there and the visitors were able to hold on for the 3-1 triumph.

The two teams will meet again this afternoon for a 3:00 p.m. game in New London.