Venturoso's 55 Saves Help Suffolk Earn 4-3 Victory at Tufts

Venturoso's 55 Saves Help Suffolk Earn 4-3 Victory at Tufts
Posted: Jan 09, 2014

Freshman goalie Kevin Venturoso made 52 saves in his first collegiate start as the Suffolk University hockey team won 4-3 at Tufts in non-league men's hockey action Wednesday night at Valley Forum II.

Suffolk's Stanton Turner scored with 9:18 remaining in the third period to break a 3-3 tie for the eventual game-winning goal. Rams freshman Simon Leahy scored a goal with two assists in the game, while Charlie McGinnis tallied a goal and an assist for Suffolk (5-7-1).

Tufts overcame an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead at 6:44 of the third period on a goal by Tyler Voigt before Suffolk rallied for the victory. The Jumbos (3-9) scored all three of their goals on power plays and out-shot the Rams 55-22.

The teams were meeting for the second time in four days after Tufts had taken a 4-1 victory against Suffolk in the third-place game of UMass Boston's Codfish Bowl on Sunday. However, tonight the Rams charged out to a 2-0 lead five minutes into the game on goals by Steve Colomey and McGinnis.

The Jumbos got a much-needed power play goal from Brendan Fadden with just 11 seconds remaining in the first period to cut the margin to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Tufts dramatically out-played the Rams in the second period and tied the score at 2-2 on the first collegiate goal by Matt Pugh at 11:48. However, despite a 23-4 advantage in shots, that was the lone goal by the Jumbos due to 22 saves in the period by Venturoso.

Voigt's power play goal early in the third gave the Jumbos their first lead, but they were soon whistled for two straight penalties 14 seconds apart. Suffolk tied the score with a 5-on-3 goal by Leahy 8:47 into the period. Then just eight seconds after the release of Tufts' second penalty, Turner tallied the game-winner.

Tufts started Greg Jenkins in goal, but relieved him with Ryan Kellenberger to start the second. They combined for 18 saves. Kellenberger was pulled for an extra man with 1:30 remaining in the third, but at the other end Venturoso and the Suffolk defense were able to hold off the Jumbos. Venturoso stopped 17 shots in the third.

The Jumbos have a week-plus off before returning on January 17 to host NESCAC action against Hamilton at Valley Forum II. Suffolk hosts SUNY Canton on Saturday.