MIDDLEBURY, VT. – Recording a three-point night while on the road, Hayden Hanes '27 led the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team with two goals and an assist against Middlebury College on Saturday afternoon as Wesleyan fell 5-4 from Middlebury's Chip Kenyon Arena.

The Cardinals (1-7-2 overall, 1-4-0 NESCAC) made the most of the first period as they took an early two-goal lead over the Panthers (6-6-0 overall, 3-5-0 NESCAC) in their second NESCAC matchup of the new year. Ethan Davidson '26 scored his second goal in two games to open the scoring. After several minutes of heavy offense by the Panthers, the Cardinals managed to clear the puck. Andrew Haxton '28 picked the puck at his own blue line before making a dash down the far boards. Davidson, chasing Haxton down the middle, caught the pass and lifted the puck over the right pad of Andrew Heinze.

Looking to create a larger divide the Cardinals struck less than two minutes later as Connor Sutherland '27 struck down the middle. Rushing the Panthers' zone, Hanes finds Owen Sweet '25 from the line, giving Sutherland enough time to get in front of Sweet's short pass and stuff the puck over the line between the pipe and Heinze's skate.

Undeterred, the Panthers made the most of their time in the second period as they posted three goals to take a lead over the Cardinals. Joe Gerebi cut the scoring in half for the Panthers before Hanes was able to score his first of the night. A battle on the boards in the neutral zone resolved itself with Sutherland driving the play in to Sweet in the right circle. Sweet sent the puck back to Hanes, Hanes hitting the ice on one knee to take advantage of Heinze being tied up at the right post. Andrew Malatesta and Jack Silverman would tie the game up at three for the Panthers to close the period.

The Panthers opened the third period with goals from Dante Palombo and Reece Brednich to take a 5-3 lead, but the Cardinals would in turn answer back with a final goal from Hanes. Winning the puck on the boards, Davidson made his way back around Heinze prior to his backhanded pass that Hanes was able to snap over the line as Heinze did not move to make the save.

Shots on goal evened out for both teams at 34 apiece while the Panthers led the Cardinals in total shots at 53-43.

In addition to Hanes' double goals, the sophomore tallied six faceoff wins and eight shots to lead the Cardinals overall.

In goal, Patrick McDevitt '28 finished the afternoon with 29 saves. Heinze earned the win with 30 saves.

The Cardinals return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 14, when they host Endicott College in non-conference action at 7 p.m.