Strong Second Half Lifts Scots Past Pilgrims
The Gordon College Scots snapped a three game losing streak beating the New England College Pilgrims 7-4 Wednesday evening in Keene. The win improves the Scots to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. The loss drops the Pilgrims to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the TCCC.
New England College would get on the board early as Dillon Lantz (Woodstock, Vt.) would net his seventh goal of the season assisted by Derek Paquet (Brunswick, Maine) just 2:03 into the opening quarter. Gordon would respond as Andrew Kirkaldy (Red, Deer, Alberta) and Dan Utz (Rochester, N.Y.) would each net a man-up goal in the final six minutes of the first quarter to give the Scots the 2-1 lead heading into the second.
NEC would regain the lead early in the second with back-to-back goals by Colin Gordon (Manchester, Mass.) and Matt Normandin (Saratoga, N.Y.) in the opening 1:30 of the quarter. Gordon would outshoot the Pilgrims 7-3 in the second quarter but the Pilgrim defense would hold the Scots scoreless heading into halftime up 3-2.
Gordon College would come out on fire in the second half of play as the Scots would outshoot the Pilgrims 21-14 and score six straight goals by six different players to lead 7-3 with 8:19 remaining in regulation. The Pilgrims would tack on a goal late in the game but it would not be enough as the Scots would cruise to the 7-4 victory.
Leading the way for Gordon was Andrew Kirkaldy who finished with two goals and an assist. Dan Utz finished with a goal and an assist, while four other Scots finished with a goal a piece.
Leading the way for NEC was Dillion Lantz who finished with two goals.
Picking up the win in goal for Gordon College was Brett Becker (Sparta, N.J.) who finished with six saves. In goal for NEC was Nick Acquaviva (Syracuse, N.Y.) who finished with 19 saves.
