Box Score Box / Text / Sheet

MALBOROUGH, Mass.--The Western New England University men's ice hockey team got off to a fast start and then hung on for a 3-2 victory over host Becker College in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast opener for both sides on Sunday at the New England Sports Center. Western New England improves to 1-1-1 on the season while the Ice Hawks fall to 1-2.

Seniors Andy Cramer and Matt Dore led Western New England with a goal and an assist apiece while classmate Tim Carr continued his strong play between the pipes. Cramer has scored three points in his last two games, and Carr made 25 saves this afternoon to lower his goals-against average to 1.63 which ranks second in the ECAC Northeast.

Tyler Auricchio paced the Ice Hawks with a pair of assists.

The visiting Golden Bears jumped on the scoreboard just 40 seconds after the opening face-off when Cramer collected the puck in the high slot, beating Becker goalie Gregg Hussey blocker side. Dore was credited with the assist.

Western New England added to its lead 3 minutes and 18 seconds into the first period when Dore backhanded a rebound off junior Chris Lembo's original shot into the Ice Hawks net for the 2-0 advantage. Besides Lembo, Cramer also was credited with an assist.

Junior Ryan Taylor gave WNE a commanding 3-0 lead at the 6:51 mark of the second period when he redirected a wrist shot from senior captain Brandon Stroud past Hussey's glove side for a power play goal. The Golden Bears finished 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.

With only 31 seconds remaining in the middle stanza, Becker cut the deficit to 3-1 when Thomas Nourie rebounded an Auricchio shot, lifting it top shelf over Carr's shoulder for his first goal of the season.

Then in the third period, the Ice Hawks pulled within one with 14:06 remaining in regulation when Bryan Parsons redirected an Auricchio shot through a screen to cut the deficit to 3-2. Becker went 1-for-3 on the power-play.

Becker coach Steve Hoar elected to pull the goalie with 1:15 left in the game in favor of an extra attacker, but the Hawks were unable to get a clean shot on net to hopefully force overtime as the Golden Bears held on for the one-goal win.

Hussey turned away 36 shots for the Ice Hawks, who were outshot 16-9 in the first and 10-5 in the second periods.

Western New England will host conference opponent Curry College at Blunt Park at Smead Rink on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. Becker returns to action the night before when it hosts ECAC Northeast rival Nichols College at 7 p.m.

(Editor's note: Becker Sports Information Office contributed to this game recap.)