Senior forward Tim Yakimowsky scored three goals, including the game-winner with 2:04 remaining in regulation, as Wentworth (12-1-0) defeated SUNY-Cortland (9-5-1), 6-5, in a nonleague contest at Matthews Arena.
Cortland got on the board first as senior forward Trevor Bauer tallied 1:38 into the contest. However, the lead would be short-lived as freshman forward Shawn Metheral scored 1:09 later to knot the game at 1-all, which would be the score at the end of the first period.
The Leopards would take a 2-1 lead at the 7:37 mark of the second as Yakimowsky scored his first of the game, coming on the power play. Wentworth went up by a 3-1 margin at 9:47, as junior forward Jamie Weiss scored a shorthanded tally. Sophomore defenseman Michael Nicoletta gave Wentworth a 4-1 lead, a lead it would carry into the third period.
Yakimowsky added a shorthanded tally at 3:36 of the final stanza to give Wentworth a comfortable 5-1 lead. However, the Red Dragons stormed back, as sophomore forward Matt Donskov cut the lead to 5-2 at the 4:47 mark and freshman forward Nate Gagnon scored at 7:42 and 15:22 to cut the lead to 5-4 with 4:38 remaining in regulation. Cortland tied the game on Bauer’s second of the game, coming with 3:17 left.
Yakimowsky’s third of the game snapped a 5-all tie and gave the Leopards a 6-5 lead with 2:04 remaining, and eventually their 12th victory of the season.
Junior goalie Jamie Vanek remained unbeaten (5-0-0) with a 23-save performance for the Leopards. Cortland’s starting goalie, junior John Larnerd, made 18 saves in the first 29:47, while sophomore Mark Paine took the loss with a 10-save performance over the final 30:13.
Wentworth hosts SUNY-Oswego Sunday, while Cortland is at Johnson & Wales.
