Baker's Overtime Game-Winner Sends No. 15 Men's Ice Hockey Past Wentworth, 3-2 (OT)

BEVERLY, Mass. — Freshman forward Cade Baker (York, Pa.) delivered the overtime game-winner against Wentworth to send the No. 15 nationally ranked Endicott men's ice hockey team through to the Conference of New England (CNE) semifinals on Wednesday evening from Raymond J. Bourque Arena.

The Gulls outlasted the Leopards after a career-best night in net for Jack McGovern (Ancaster, Ont.), which included 67 total saves (27 in the third period alone). 

Endicott kicked off the scoring 31 seconds into the contest, as Ryan Willett (Bayville, N.Y.) potted home a rebound opportunity in front of the net.

Wentworth knotted up the contest on a power play goal with just over four minutes remaining in the first period.

After a scoreless second period, Wentworth took the lead on an unorthodox empty net goal with a delayed penalty in progress. The goal occurred after an Endicott shot was blocked with the net vacated, and the puck made its way down the full sheet of ice and into Endicott's empty net.

Now trailing 2-1 with under two minutes to play, the Blue and Green capitalized with the extra skater on the ice, as Michael Casey (Media, Pa.) fired home the equalizer.

That brought the game to overtime, and at the 10:07 mark of the overtime period, Baker drilled his second career goal top shelf, glove side to send the Gulls through to the CNE semifinals against No. 8 UNE.

Atticus Kelly (St. Paul, Minn.) made 22 saves in the victory and sees his record improve to 12-4-0 this season.

BEYOND THE BOX

• Willett's first period goal brings him to 100 career points. He is the sixth player in program history to accomplish that feat.
• The Gulls have made the conference semifinals in nine consecutive seasons (have never missed the semifinal round).
• Endicott has a 5-2 overall record in playoff overtime contests (5-1 in conference playoff overtimes).
• A.J. Martinelli (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) played in his 100th career game this evening.
• Endicott is 6-3-1 in overtime contests this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Third-seeded Endicott (18-7-1) advances to the CNE semifinal round at second-seeded UNE on Saturday, March 1 for a 7 PM showdown. Wentworth sees its 2024-25 season come to a close with a final record of 7-17-2. 

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(Photo Credit - Jonah Bean '28)