MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Despite an early two-goal lead, the Wesleyan men's hockey team could not stave off a 5-2 defeat at the hands of No. 8 ranked Hamilton College on Friday night as the team was led by Daniel Lurie '26 and Owen Sweet '25 from Spurrier-Snyder Arena.

The Cardinals (4-10-3 overall, 3-7-1 NESCAC) got the first man-advantage jump of the night, awarded a power play as the Continentals (14-3-0 overall, 10-1-0 NESCAC) were penalized for an interference call with just under 15 minutes to go in the opening period. While the Cardinals were unable to capitalize, they continued their attack and Lurie struck 20 seconds later. Zach Stimeling '26 corralled the puck down the behind the goal, sending it up the near side for Lurie's wrist shot at the blue line.

Just over a minute after Lurie's goal, the Cardinals would score their elusive power play goal off the stick of Sweet with the Continentals down on a tripping minor. Sweet won the faceoff and regained the puck after a pass or two and sent the puck down to Ethan Davidson '26 in the corner. Davidson, as he's done all season, held for a breath before connecting with Sweet in the right circle. Sweet's shot fell over the right pad of Continentals goaltender Charlie Archer. The Cardinals' lead was cut in half at the tail end of the period with Luke Tchor scoring for the Continentals.

Unhappy to be down in the first period, the Continentals would go on to put up four more unanswered goals through the second and third periods. James Philpott, Devon de Vries, Jackson Krock, and Nick Kent would all be credited on the score sheet.

Standing in goal for the Cardinals, Patrick McDevit '28 made 29 saves on the evening. In the opposite goal, Archer earned the win while making 17 saves.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Feb. 1, when they host Amherst in NESCAC action beginning at 3 p.m.