Conference Roundup 2/12/13: Colby vs Wesleyan

Colby College Mules (5-14-3; 3-11-2)               4                       
Wesleyan University Cardinals (9-9-4; 5-7-4)   2

 It was over when...: Nick Lanza (F, Jr. ) put in an empty net goal, his second of the night, to seal the victory for the Mules. Shots in favor of Colby 32-18. The normally anemic Colby power play went 2-6 while Wesleyan went 0-3.  Sam Parker  (G, So.) made 16 saves and gets the win. Parker is now (4-3-0) in net on the year for the (5-14-3) Mules.  Nolan Daley (G, Fr.) made 28 saves in the loss, his second of the year and first in six decisions, for the Cardinals. 

1st Period: Lanza led off the scoring with a power play goal 8:35 in for his team leading 11th tally of the season. Wesleyan's two headed offensive monster responded when Nick Craven (F, Sr.) took a pass from Keith Buehler (F, Jr.) for the equalizer with just 38 seconds to play.

2nd Period: 2 penalties in the second but no scoring. 

3rd Period: Ray Zeek (F, So.) stuck in a rebound goal after Daley made two saves to give the Mules the 2-1 lead 7:05 into the final frame. They got an insurance goal, on a rebound backhander from Jack Bartlett (F, Jr.) on the power play with 5:22 remaining. Craven pulled the Cardinals within one with a slapshot that founds its way past Nolan with 2:54 remaining for his second goal of the game. Lanza then added the empty netter with 31 seconds remaining. 

The game, delayed from its original time on Saturday 2/10 at Wesleyan due to winter Storm Nemo, was moved to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, roughly half way between the Maine and Connecticut schools. With the victory, Colby wins its second out of its last three conference games and moves to within one point of the eighth and final playoff spot. In the final weekend of regular season play, the Mules take on currently eighth seeded Conn College as well as last place Tufts. Wesleyan, who is locked into the number six seed, has a home and home with Trinity to close out the regular season.

Player of the game: Nick Lanza (F, Jr. ) scored two goals and assisted on another (2-1-3) to add to his team lead in points (12-13-25). The Westminster alum felt at home on prep school ice, though Westy is in the Founders League and doesn't play Phillips Exeter on a regular basis.

Box Score: Colby 4/Wesleyan 2                          School Recap(s): Colby Recap     Wesleyan Recap