Freshman Bear Trapp scored a pair of goals and added an assist as Sacred Heart beat Bentley College 4-2 in Atlantic Hockey action Saturday night at the Milford Ice Pavilion. With the win, Sacred Heart won the season series between the two schools (2-1-1) and improved to 14-9-1 overall and 11-6-1 in the AHA, while Bentley fell to 9-10-2 and 7-6-2.
Junior goaltender Jason Smith held Bentley to two goals or less for the fourth time this season and earned his 12th win of the season by making 23 saves. Both of Bentley’s goals were scored by freshman Jeff Gumaer, who has a team-high 10 goals for the Falcons.
The Pioneers controlled play from the opening face off, holding an 8-1 advantage in shots in the opening minutes of the game. The pressure paid off 8:59 into the contest as Dave Grimson netted his second goal of the season. Kyle Tull broke into the Bentley zone and fired a shot that was saved by junior Ray Jean, but Tull and a Bentley defender went sliding into the crease and into Jean. The rebound fell into the slot to a wide open Grimson, who wristed a shot just under the crossbar and over a helpless Jean.
Following the opening goal, the game evened out for the remainder of the period, but the score would not remain stable as the Pioneers added a second with 50 seconds remaining in the opening period. Pierre-Luc O’Brien faked a shot from the left circle and made a pass cross-ice to Trapp, who was unmarked on the back post. Trapp one-timed a shot that slid under a sprawling Jean to give Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Sacred Heart scored just 1:37 into the second period to take a 3-0 lead as Alexandre Parent scored on a shot from the left circle that beat Jean at the far post over his left shoulder. Bentley grabbed a goal back four minutes later as a centering pass by freshman Jeff Gumaer hit the skate of Sacred Heart defenseman Scott Marchesi in front of the goal and deflected past Smith.
The Pioneers reestablished a three-goal six minutes later as Trapp scored his second goal of the game and 11th of the season. Gumaer netted his second of the night with less than three minutes to play in the second period on the power play. A shot by Brendan McCartin from the right point was blocked out front and fell to Gumaer who beat Smith short side for his 10th goal of the season.
Geordan Murphy played well in relief for Bentley making 18 saves without allowing a goal, including 14 in the third period to keep Bentley within striking distance.
Bentley returns to action next weekend as the Falcons head to West Point for an important Atlantic Hockey series with Army.
