NEW LONDON, CT. – In a Saturday night prime-time showdown on the road, the Wesleyan men's hockey team ground out a six-goal performance to run down Connecticut College, 6-3, as the contest saw freshman forward Troy Maldonado lead Wesleyan with a three-point night from Conn.'s Dayton Arena.

Coupling Friday night's win over Tufts with tonight's six-goal trouncing of the Camels (6-9-0 overall, 4-6-0 NESCAC), the Cardinals (4-9-3 overall, 3-6-1 NESCAC) recorded their first back-to-back NESCAC wins since the opening weekend of the 2023-24 season. It's been two years since the Cardinals won a game with six or more goals scored, the last being a 6-2 victory over Middlebury on Jan. 6, 2023.

Tallying a goal and two assists, Maldonado led the Cardinals with three points and two blocks while playing on the top defensive pairing. Credited with the game-winning goal, Maldonado struck on the power play midway through the second period as the Camels were called for charging. Settling the puck on the near boards, Hayden Hanes '27 sent the puck out to the point for Jake Geraci '28 to fire on Camels' goaltender Will McEvoy. Geraci's shot was blocked by the mass gathered in front of McEvoy, but Maldonado followed through with a one-timer on the deflected puck and lifted it over the right pad of McEvoy.

With Patrick McDevitt '28 in goal to hold down the last line, the Cardinals jumped the gun on the Camels and took a one goal lead with just 60 seconds erased from the clock. Scoring his first of two goals on the night, Andrew Haxton '28 was responsible. The Cardinals blocked a clear attempt in the neutral zone to give way for Ethan Davidson's '26 drive down the boards, Haxton rushed up the middle as backup and made contact on the pass. Five minutes later Haxton and Davidson connected again after Davidson made a fly pass across the goal mouth for Haxton at the right post. The Camels closed the first period with their own goal, Matt Lewis earning the point.

Owen Sweet '25 opened the second period with his first goal of the night with a snap shot behind McEvoy as the Camels were unable to generate much offense. Posted down in the corner, Patrick Morrisey '25 caught the puck on a pass from Maldonado at the point and found Sweet waiting above the goal. Wade Volo would cut the score again for the Camels before heading into the third period.

The Camels would score once more while on the power play, Will Lawrence striking while the Cardinals were down a man for cross checking. Sweet's second goal of the game would be the first of the two empty net goals scored by the Cardinals. Capitalizing on the running clock, Zach Stimeling '27 scored the final empty net goal with three seconds to go.

Making 24 saves in goal, McDevitt earned his third win of the season. McEvoy finished the night with 18 saves for the Camels.

The Cardinals return home on Friday, Jan. 31, when they host Hamilton in NESCAC action beginning at 7 p.m.