MIDDLETOWN, CT. – The Wesleyan men's ice hockey team fell 3-0 in non-conference action to Curry College on Saturday afternoon in the home opener from Spurrier-Snyder Rink as Patrick Morrissey '25 and DJ Dixon '24 led the team from the face-off circle and the defense.

The Colonels (5-2-1 overall) demanded the puck and commanded it as well through the first period, outshooting the Cardinals (2-2-0 overall, 2-0 NESCAC) 15-10 but only gaining one more shot on goal than the Cardinals with a 9-8 differential. While both goaltenders ended the period with eight saves, the Colonels scored first. Gaining the puck in the neutral zone, Wilhelm Patriksson crossed the puck from the right post to Jacob Crespo just across the goal crease for the first tally at 17:07.

The Cardinals entered the second period with an extra jump in their pace as they controlled the offensive possession through the second bout of 20 minutes. Holding each other scoreless, the Cardinals evened out the shots on goal differential at 13. Both the Colonels and the Cardinals managed to kill off a penalty a piece, as Marc Smith '24 and Shane Soderwall came up on either end of the ice with 13 saves. The Cardinals edged out the Colonels off the draw, winning eight in the second period.

Less than five minutes into the final period Ryan Prewitt put the Colonels up on a deflection out directly in front of Smith, gaining possession from Matt Connor at the blue line with the initial shot. The final goal for the Colonels was an empty net goal given to Jesse Galassi. Despite the late goal from the Colonels, the Cardinal held the momentum with a man-advantage in the final minutes as Smith was pulled for the extra attacker. With the puck racing back on the empty net, Daniel Lurie '26 made a save deep in the Cardinals' own zone to keep the game afloat.

Dixon won 10 of the Cardinals' 22 wins off the face-off as Morrissey finished with a total of six shots on Soderwall. Morrissey was joined by Kyle Anderson '24 and Owen Sweet '25 with five attempts as well.

Smith finished the afternoon in goal with 27 saves. Soderwall made 33.

The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, Nov. 26, when they host UMass Boston in non-conference action beginning at 3 p.m. from the Spurrier-Snyder Rink.