Newark, Del. — After bounding to an early 2-0 lead, the University of Delaware Division 1 men’s hockey team (0-1-0) gave up four consecutive goals as West Chester University (2-1-0) rolled to a 4-3 decision on Friday (Sept. 21) at Gold Arena.
Despite first-period productivity generated by Chris Mazzella and Pierce Lamberton to give the Blue Hens an early 2-0 lead, penalty trouble proved detrimental in the later stages. Three of the Golden Rams’ goals — two from Jack McKeever — came on power plays. Down 3-2 through 40 minutes, Delaware surrendered a fourth goal at 6:43 in the third, when Tiernan Seningen made the most of a two-man advantage.
“There are several areas we — team and coaches — need to improve, but not everything was negative,” said coach John Donahue after the defeat. “I thought the freshman line of Jake Nimeh, Gavin Hulser and Ben Bergman played well in their first game as Blue Hens. Ultimately it was untimely penalties that kept us from being put in a position to win.”
In all, West Chester was 3-for-6 on the power play, taking advantage of 38 penalty minutes served by the Blue Hens. Chris Ponticello took the loss in net, registering 30 saves on 34 shots faced.
Delaware travels to face Penn State Berks on Friday, Sept. 28 before hosting Liberty for a two-game set on Oct. 5 and 6.
West Chester 4, Delaware 3
Fri., Sept. 21, 2018 – at Gold Arena, Newark, Del.
West Chester – 1 2 1 – 4
Delaware – 2 0 1 – 3
First Period: Delaware, Mazzella 1 (Nisky, Zimmer)(PP), 6:37. Delaware, Lamberton 1 (Cascone), 15:38. West Chester, McKeever 1 (Hargadon, Roarty)(PP), 17:53. Penalties: Roarty, WCU (tripping), 5:26. Johnson, WCU (cross-checking), 6:26. Anderson, UD (slashing), 11:01. Lamberton, UD (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:58. Anderson, UD (roughing), 17:33.
Second Period: West Chester, Hargadon 1 (O’Brien, Kubachka), 3:50. West Chester, McKeever 2 (Roarty, Flick)(PP), 13:50. Penalties: Johnson, WCU (slashing), 9:16. Anderson, UD (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:16. Anderson, UD (game misconduct), 11:44. Nisky, UD (slashing), 12:00. Colgan, WCU (interference), 17:02. Lamberton, UD (slashing), 17:31. Horacek, WCU (slashing), 19:24.
Third Period: West Chester, Seningen 2 (Semeti)(PP), 6:43. Delaware, Felice 1, 19:44. Penalties: Colgan, WCU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 1:46. Lamberton, UD (cross-checking), 6:08. Anderson, UD (roughing), 6:08. Felice, UD (penalty shot), 7:11. Zimmer, UD (roughing), 8:09. Zimmer, UD (game misconduct), 10:09. Winget, WCU (slashing), 13:07. Petriccione, WCU (holding), 14:09.
Shots On Goal: West Chester 34, Delaware 30.
Penalty Minutes: West Chester 18, Delaware 38.
Power-play Opportunities: West Chester 3 of 6, Delaware 1 of 5.
Goalies: West Chester, Breandan Colgan 1-1-0 (30 shots, 27 saves). Delaware, Chris Ponticello 0-1-0 (34 shots, 30 saves).
Referees: Kyle Smiley, Rich Jondo. Linesmen: Tony Armetta, Brent Kendall.
