NEW LONDON, CT. – A pair of goals launched the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team over Connecticut College 2-1 on Friday night in NESCAC play as DJ Dixon '24 and Owen Sweet '25 tallied their first goals to open the season with a road win from Dayton Arena.

At 3:03 in the first period, Dixon put the Cardinals on the board with the first goal of the 2023-24 season. Assists were awarded to Sweet and Ethan Davidson '26. Dixon gained possession out at the top of the goal before sending it to the back of the net on a heavy shot to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. The Camels tied the game up at one just a few minutes later thanks to John Russo whose shot from the right circle caught goaltender Erik Voloshin '24 off his mark.

Sweet earned the game-winner at 8:22 of the second period, tucking the puck just inside the left goal post behind Camels goaltender Sean Dynan's right pad on a rebound shot by Dixon. Davidson earned his second assist of the evening.

Wesleyan had to hold off the Camels who had a couple good looks in the last minute, despite having to play on the penalty kill for the last 2+ minutes of the game. With Dynan pulled in net and the teams skating 5v5, Devin Newhook put a shot wide and Rocco Testa-Basi had a shot blocked by Sweet in the closing seconds. 

Edging the Camels on total shots, 21 to the Camels' 19, the Cardinals defense held the Camels scoreless through the third period and only allowed 19 shots on Voloshin for the game.

On top of a goal and an assist, Dixon led the Cardinals from the face-off circle as he won 11 of 18 total attempts.

In goal, Voloshin made 18 saves for the Cardinals. Dynan made 19 saves in net for the Camels.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Nov. 18, when they head to Tufts for a NESCAC matchup beginning at 4 p.m.