MEDFORD, MA. - Staring down a career-high 49 shots on goal, freshman goaltender
Patrick McDevitt made all 49 saves to earn his first-career shutout and the first shutout of the season for the Wesleyan men's hockey team as Wesleyan closed the door on Tufts University, 2-0, in NESCAC action on Friday night from Tufts' Malden Valley Forum.
The 49 shots faced by McDevitt are a season high not just for him, but for the Cardinals as a whole. McDevitt's save count ties
Marc Smith '24 for the second-most saves by a single goaltender in a game ending in regulation. Smith holds the record for most regulation saves at 59 as Tim Sestak '20 program record 65 saves in a single game was a triple overtime matchup with Amherst in 2019.
Despite being outshot for the entirety of the match, the Cardinals were quick to capitalize on the man advantage and put away a goal in the first period. With the Jumbos called for a charging minor, the Cardinals' power play unit went to work and gave way for
Jack Marottolo '26 to take the lead. Set inside the near corner boards,
Ethan Davidson'26 circled out for
Owen Sweet '25 while Marottolo in the wings flew through the center. Catching the edge of Sweet's pass, Marottolo was able to lift the puck over the right pad of Gustave Bylin while tripped up by a Jumbo's defender.
With seconds remaining in the second period, Sweet nearly gave the Cardinals a two-goal lead as
Connor Sutherland's '27 pass from behind the post brushed across the goal crease but the goal was waved off by the officials. Sweet would not be held scoreless and restored his game point with a game closer on an empty net.
Jake Geraci '28 blocked an attempted clear by the Jumbos with his skate, the puck ricochetting onto the stick of Sutherland before it was flashed to Sweet at the blue line. Sweet drove the puck within reaching distance and flipped it over the line.
In the goal opposite McDevitt, Bylin finished the evening for the Jumbos with 18 saves. The Jumbos were led by Harrison Bazianos with 10 shots on goal.
The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, when they travel to Conn. College for a 7:30 p.m. NESCAC puck drop.