Men’s Ice Hockey Defeats WestConn in Home Opener

AUBURN, MA - Anna Maria College defeated Western Connecticut State University 5-1 in a non-conference collegiate men's ice hockey game on Thursday evening at the Horgan Skating Arena.

With the victory, the AMCATS return to .500 on the season, improving to 2-2 overall.

After surrendering an early goal in the first period, the AMCATS wasted no time responding in the second. Goaltender Matthew Hennessey sparked the comeback by setting up Tobias Omholt, who buried his first goal of the year to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the period, Anna Maria capitalized on a power play when Omholt and Nolan Ring connected with Kenny Kalman, who netted his first career goal to give the home team a 2-1 advantage entering the break.

Ring added to the lead early in the third period, scoring on another power play after being set up by Omholt and Kalman to make it 3-1. The AMCATS struck again late in the period while shorthanded, as Brandon Della Paolera and Kalman set up Andrew LaHaie for his first career goal to push the margin to 4-1. Moments later, Della Paolera found the net himself, scoring Anna Maria's fifth of the night off assists from Pearce Baker and Max Pelletier to extend the lead to 5-1.

Hennessey went the distance in net for the AMCATS, making 24 saves to secure the win and improve his individual record to 2-1 on the season.

Anna Maria opens Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, November 15th, with a home game against Salem State. Puck drops at 6:40 p.m.

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