BOSTON, Mass. – The Wesleyan men's hockey team (5-3-0) opened the new year with a come from behind victory over Fitchburg State (6-3-1) in the first round of the 55th Annual Codfish Bowl Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals scored twice in the final period to edge the Falcons 2-1 and advance to the Championship game. With the loss, Fitchburg State will take on Albertus Magnus in the consolation game. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wesleyan had a good chance to get on the board early, but Tyler Kobryn's bid with just 2:13 expired hit the pipe and ricocheted away.
• The Cardinals looked to take advantage of a power play beginning at the 6:12 mark, but all four shots were denied by Falcon netminder Brian McGrath.
• Fitchburg State broke through with 9:25 expired in the second stanza when Egan Wolford gathered a feed from Gene Bouthiette before finding the back of the net for the 1-0 edge.
• Wesleyan found the equalizer 2:41 into the final frame when Quincy Gregg tallied his first goal of the year to make it 1-1.
• The Cardinals continued offensive pressure and took a 2-1 edge just 3:08 later. Tyler Levine scored the game-winner, and his fourth of the year, on a feed from Michael Kerbrat.
• The Falcons looked to even the score with 48 seconds remaining by pulling their goalie, but a strong Wesleyan defense did not allow a single shot as they hung on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Tim Sestak recorded 23 saves to pick up the victory in goal for the Cardinals.
• Despite the loss, McGrath stopped an impressive 46 shots for Fitchburg State during 59:12 of play.
• Wesleyan held a decisive 48-24 advantage in shots, with half of those shots coming in the first period.  

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals will play host school UMass.-Boston in the Codfish Bowl Championship game at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Beacons advanced to the title game with a decisive 9-2 triumph over Albertus Magnus.