MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A pair of incredible streaks came to an end on Tuesday afternoon as the No. 15 nationally ranked Wesleyan men's hockey team suffered a 4-3 defeat at Albertus Magnus. Wesleyan (11-3-2) sees their eight-game unbeaten streak end while this also marks the first regulation defeat for the Cardinals this season. The Falcons (15-5-1) have lost just once in the past seven games.
In a rematch of a meeting from November 27 wherein the Cardinals took apart the Falcons to the tone of an 8-2 win in Middletown, Albertus Magnus exacted some revenge in a come-from-behind win in New Haven. Wesleyan led 2-0 in this one and after Albertus scored three unanswered to take the lead, the Cardinals responded to tie the score at 3-3 heading into the third. Just three minutes in, Harley Michaels scored the ultimate game-winner.
Jake Lachance '23 was first to score as he charged in from the blue line and with the Falcons backing off, the senior took advantage of the miscommunication and slid home a backhander for the game's first goal 15:47 into play.
Just 1:01 later,
Kyle Anderson '24 made it 2-0 Cardinals as a rush up-ice saw
Danny Judge '26 carry into the Falcons' defensive zone with speed. With Anderson on his left, Judge teed Anderson up who found the back of the net with a slap shot that created the two-goal cushion heading into the second period.
The second period was a much different story as the Falcons exploded for three goals in a span of just 5:35 to storm back and take a 3-2 lead. Caden Pattison started the run with a rebound goal on a power play just 1:29 into the period. Kyler Campbell tied the score 1:31 later with a wrist shot from above the left faceoff dot. Alex Gagnon then netted the go-ahead goal, batting in a deflected puck to make it 3-2 Falcons.
The goals continued to fly in just 2:20 later, with Wesleyan coming up with a response.
Wiggle Kerbrat '23 won a battle along the end boards in the Falcons' defensive end. With his back to net, he laid a pass off to
Colin Cobb '23 who fired a one-timer that was deflected in by Anderson right in front. Anderson's second tally signaled the junior forward's first career multi-goal game.
After the four-goal second period, just one was scored in the third and it came off the stick of Harley Michaels 3:16 into the frame. A faceoff in the Cardinals' defensive end was won by the Falcons and after a scramble to possess the puck, Michaels had time to fire home a wrist shot past
Erik Voloshin '24 for the eventual game-winner.
A late Wesleyan power play provided some hope for the visitors but both saves on the man-advantage were turned aside by Joseph Giacobbo. With Voloshin pulled 1:17 into the Cardinal power play, creating a 6-on-4 opportunity, only one shot made it on-net as Albertus held off Wesleyan for the 4-3 victory.
Wesleyan looks to rebound with a big weekend upcoming. The Cardinals welcome a pair of teams sitting in the Top 5 of the NESCAC standings including league leader Amherst on Friday night. Hamilton awaits on Saturday.
