MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Sophomore Evan Plunkett (Charlotte, N.C./Holderness School) made 31 saves to backstop the Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team to a 2-0 victory at Wesleyan University on Tuesday at Spurrier-Snyder Rink. The Purple Knights ran their winning streak to five games.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (8-4-3), Wesleyan (3-7)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Sophomore Evan Plunkett (Charlotte, N.C./Holderness School), 31 saves
• Senior Ashton Allain (Brentwood, Tenn./Walpole Express), 2 assists
• Senior Nick Wracker (Columbia, S.C./Northeast Generals), 1 goal
• Junior Hans Forselius (Guilford, Conn./Seahawks Hockey Club), 1 goal
• Sophomore Jack Tuite (Shrub Oak, N.Y./Springfield Jr. Pics), 10-for-23 faceoffs
• Senior Kyle Lee (Buffalo, N.Y./Finlandia University), 4 blocked shots

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Junior Nathan Kirschenbaum, 19 saves

GAME FACTS

• Plunkett extended his school record to six career shutouts while tying Chris Johnson '19 for 10th in wins (20).
• Saint Michael's was outgained in shots (31-21) and faceoff wins (33-23) but blocked 17 shots to Wesleyan's five.
• The Purple and Gold won for the first time in six tries all-time at Wesleyan, improving to 6-5-2 overall in the series.
• The Purple Knights have yielded three goals or less in 14 of 15 games this season.

THE ACTION

• The visitors held a 9-8 lead in shots during a scoreless opening period, as Plunkett turned away all eight attempts sent his way.
• Plunkett denied another 13 shots in the second frame, when Forselius' goal with 20 seconds left - from the left circle through Kirschenbaum's left armpit - accounted for the only scoring. Allain and first-year Aj Sacco (Middleton, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) assisted.
• Despite spending the better part of the final 9:18 of regulation a man down, the Purple Knights maintained the lead thanks to allowing a total of only four shots on goal during four Wesleyan power plays.
• With less than two minutes remaining and Kirschenbaum pulled for an extra skater, Allain blocked a shot in front of his own net with the Cardinals on a 6-on-4 power play before first-year Evan Dresser (Everett, Mass./Belmont Hill School) kicked the puck to Wracker, who dumped a shot off the boards and toward the open net, slipping the puck just inside the right post at 18:43 to make it 2-0.
• Plunkett secured the shutout with a sprawling save of first-year Jack DesRuisseaux, who had gotten behind the defense with about 50 seconds left in the contest.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Friday vs. No. 14 Salve Regina University, 7:30 p.m.
• The Seahawks' national ranking is according to this week's U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division III poll.