Box Score AUBURN, Mass. – Nikita Smirnov's team-leading 10th goal of the season proved to be the game-winner as Bryn Athyn College ice hockey team defeated Anna Maria 4-2 and earned a split of its weekend series Sunday afternoon in Horgan Arena.
With the score even at two, Smirnov won the footrace in the offensive zone against an Amcat defender to the puck that was banked off the boards by Devon Becker deep in the Bryn Athyn end of the ice. Smirnov made a move around the defender and snapped a shot at the goal line that found a way through Anna Maria goalie Julius Huset with 5:24 left in the contest. Goaltender Gabriel Couture also earned an assist on Smirnov's second game-winning goal of the season.
Becker recorded an empty-net goal, with an assist from Dakota Ulmer, at 19:20 to increase the advantage to 4-2. It was Becker's ninth goal of the season.
Bryn Athyn (9-8-3) controlled the first period, outshooting Anna Maria (10-6-4) 18-11, but only led 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes. Tanner Congdon tallied the game's opening goal 3:57 into the contest as he one-timed a Sheldon Brett pass from the left post into a completely wide-open net. Becker started the play by feeding Brett the puck at the right faceoff circle. Then, Brett skated down to the goal line and backhanded a pass across the goalmouth to Congdon for his fifth goal.
The Amcats tied up the score at one with a Patrick Manning power-play blast from the blue line that snuck through the legs of Couture 2:47 into the second period.
Nick Malvasi responded 17 seconds later by backhanding the puck around a downed Huset from in tight to score his first goal of the year and put the Lions back in front, 2-1. Jake Heckenberger and Eric Higgins both picked up assists on the play.
Anna Maria tied the score once again on a Nick Kukuris goal 10:27 into the final period.
In addition to his assist, Couture stopped 23 shots to improve to 3-1-1. Huset had 29 saves for Anna Maria.
Bryn Athyn begins a stretch of three straight home games on Friday, Jan. 31 against Albertus Magnus in Junge Pavilion at 7 p.m.
