MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The red-hot Wesleyan men's ice hockey team won their fourth consecutive NESCAC road game, defeating Middlebury 5-2 on Saturday afternoon. Ten different Cardinals (9-8-2, 8-4-2 NESCAC) recorded at least one point while the Panthers (2-11-3, 1-10-2 NESCAC) have just one win in their last 12 games.
 
The five-goal total matches a season-high for Wesleyan that the Cardinals set all the way back on Nov. 20 in a 5-1 win at Conn. College, which was just the second game of the season. Three first period goals, a season-high for Wesleyan in any period, set the tone before two empty netters late closed the door on a hard-charging Panther squad that scored twice in the second period.
 
Matt Zandi '21, G'22 matched his season and career-high with a three-point night, registering one goal and two assists. Wiggle Kerbrat '23 came through with two goals, giving him the first multi-goal game of his career. Owen Sweet '25 added one goal and one assist for his first career multi-point game and Emmet Powell '23 tallied two assists to account for the Cardinals' multi-point scorers in the win.
 
Meanwhile, between the pipes it was Marc Smith '24 who starred as the sophomore continues his hot streak as the starting goalie in every game during Wesleyan's current four-game win streak. He finished with a career-high 30 saves (10 in each period) while allowing two goals or less for the fourth straight game. During the four-game win streak, Smith is sporting a 1.25 goals against average and .953 save percentage.
 
The opening Cardinal goal came in an extended possession in the Middlebury defensive end  as Rob Dysart '22 nudged the puck to Powell at the point. The junior defender wound up for a shot that found the stick of Kerbrat right in front of Middlebury's goaltender Jake Horoho as the puck deflected in for the game's opening goal.
 
Less then two minutes later, Wesleyan struck again, this time on a rush up-ice as Danny Sorabella '22 worked a give-and-go with Jake Lachance '23. The defenseman Lachance received the pass, skated over the blue line and fed Sorabella who was skating on an aggressive line towards the end boards. With a Cardinal in front of net, Sorabella centered and it was Alex Giummo '23 who was there for the tap-in goal.
 
The first period onslaught continued as Zandi scored on the power play with a wrister from the point. Colin Cobb '23 nudged a pass to the blue line where Powell fired a cross-ice pass to Zandi at the near side. With plenty of room to shoot, the graduate defenseman rifled a wrister that beat Horoho at the near post as Wesleyan led 3-0 at the end of one.
 
Needing to make something happen, Middlebury did respond with a goal within the opening minute of the second period as EMack Bentley scored on the power play before a second Panther goal in the frame came with just 45 seconds remaining on the clock as Paddy Bogart made it 3-2 Cardinals heading into the third.
 
In the final period, it was Smith who stood on his head as the Panthers outshot the Cardinals 10-1 in the frame but the sophomore goaltender proved up to the task, saving all 10 and preserving the Wesleyan lead.
 
Some late insurance first came off the stick of Sweet as Zandi pushed the puck up to Stevie O'Connor '22 who passed off the boards to Sweet in the Panther defensive zone for the empty netter that made it 4-2 Cardinals with 1:59 left to play.
 
A second empty net goal came with 44 ticks left as Kerbrat finished off a great defensive series that led to a breakout and the fifth Cardinal goal.
 
Wesleyan has won three straight and nine of their last 10 meetings against Middlebury. The Cardinals look to continue their recent win streak back at home next weekend with a big Friday night showdown with Colby, who is currently sitting in sole possession of first place in the NESCAC standings.