MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Wesleyan men's hockey ends their three-game losing streak Friday night with a victory over NESCAC foe Middlebury 5-2 at Spurrier-Snyder Rink. The Cardinals had lost back-to-back overtime heartbreakers at home to Amherst and then Hamilton, both 2-1. Wesleyan responded to an early Panthers goal with four unanswered to gain a multi-goal advantage going into the 3^rd period. Each team would add one goal in the final period to reach the final score of 5-2.

The two teams battled it out in Vermont a few weeks back with the Cardinals coming out victorious 6-2. It appeared this one was going to be going a different direction as the Panthers were first on the board just seconds into this one. A Wesleyan turnover from behind their own net led to Michael Fairfax setting up Andrej Hromic in the slot for the one timer that managed to beat Erik Voloshin '24. The Cardinals were quick to respond, evening the game at one just two minutes later. Go Uemura '23 sent a nice pass across the ice to Owen Sweet '25 who beat the Panthers' Jake Horoho to even the score at one. Wesleyan was able to add one more in the dying minutes of the first period to take the lead into the first intermission. Sweet was in on the action once again, carrying the puck into the attacking zone before dropping it off to DJ Dixon '24 for the score.

The Cardinals began to open the game up early in the second period. They added goal number three less than seven minutes in when Liam Donelan '23 beat the Panthers' defense to a lose puck and took it from one blue line to another eventually beating Horoho five hole. Two minutes later it was another Wesleyan goal, this time by Wiggle Kerbrat '23 who was able to tip the puck to himself before placing it in the back of the net to give the Cardinals a 4-1 advantage. The Cardinals ended the second period with a power play opportunity, but their three shots on goal during the two minutes were all turned away by the Panthers' goalie.

Middlebury was able to crack into the Wesleyan lead to begin the third period. Middlebury had a man-up chance to open the period, but scored seconds after Wesleyan's Danny Judge '26 left the penalty box. Paddy Mangan took a slapshot from the blue line that deflected off Emmet Powell '23 and past Voloshin to make it 4-2. The Cardinals added one more insurance goal midway through the period for the final score of the contest. Mike Dunderdale '23 sniped a shot from the blue line that beat Horoho for the 5^th goal of the game. Voloshin turned aside the final four shots that came his way and the Cardinals end their three-game losing streak.

Wesleyan outshot Middlebury 24-22. The Cardinals have now won the last five meetings and 11 of the last 12. Voloshin made 20 saves for the Cards. Dixon and Sweet both had multi-point performances, with each of the netting a goal and adding an assist. Colin Cobb '23 had his third game of the season with at least two assists. Dunderdale scored his first goal of the season. Five different Cardinals scored.

Wesleyan will return to the ice tomorrow, February 4^th where they will take on another NESCAC opponent in Williams at Spurrier-Snyder Rink.