ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Senior defenseman J.R. Wojciechowski scored a pair of goals and junior goaltender Michael Tilford had 30 saves as host Nazareth took a 4-1 men’s hockey victory over Chatham in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference game at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex.
Nazareth improved to 5-1-4 overall and to 3-1-2 in UCHC action. The Cougars dropped to 1-6-0 overall and 1-4-0 in conference games.
The Golden Flyers scored twice in the first period and two more times in the second and generally controlled the possession time to come away with the hard-fought win. The Golden Flyers scored twice on the power play and successfully killed off the Cougars’ three extra-man chances. In addition, Nazareth won 45 of 62 face-offs to control the pace.
Wojciechowski’s first goal came at 6:25 of the opening period after Mitch Culver redirected a draw back to the blue line. Wojciechowski blasted it into the goal for his second tally of the season. Nazareth scored again at 14:22, just 14 seconds after the Cougars were whistled for too many men on the ice. Ray Falso was he beneficiary as he blasted a low shot that eluded Chatham goaltender Matt Calas for his second goal of he season with Casey Kubara assisting.
Chatham got on the board early in the second period as Michael Thamert converted on a rebound of a shot by Andrew Breda that was kicked away by Tilford.
The Cougars pressured for the tying goal, but the Golden Flyers finally netted a valuable insurance goal when freshman Justin Miller one-timed a pass from David Powlowski to beat Calas for his sixth goal of the season. Four minutes later, Nazareth took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play as Austin Romzek slipped a pass across the crease that Wojciechowski finished for his second goal of the game. Jacob Paluch also assisted as he started the play from the left point.
Chatham had opportunities thereafter, particularly in the third period when the Cougars had a 5-on-3 power play of their own following minor penalties to Romzek and James McDonald. Tilford, though, stood tall in goal for the Golden Flyers by making 12 of his saves in the final 20 minutes to preserve the win.
In dominating the face-off circle, the Golden Flyers got 16 wins on 21 draws for Culver, 13 of 17 from Powlowski and 11 of 14 from McDonald. Calas finished with 30 saves for Chatham.
Nazareth is home again Saturday at 4 p.m. for another UCHC game against Stevenson.
