Wabash scored 21 consecutive goals to claim a 21-2 victory over Earlham College Saturday afternoon in the Little Giants’ home opener of the season.
Wabash (2-0) trailed 1-0 after the visiting Quakers (0-2) scored the contest’s first goal midway through the first period. The Little Giants responded with four consecutive goals to close the period. Will Sorg netted his first of three goals to tie the score with 4:42 left in the first period. Quinn Fitzgerald added a goal, one of three on the afternoon for the senior, to put Wabash up 2-1
Jake Pippen scored back-to-back goals late in the period to make it a 4-1 contest at the end of the first. Blake Stephens tallied a goal to open the second period, followed by two goals each from Sorg and Fitzgerald to give Wabash a 9-1 lead. Will Kerker notched his first collegiate goal with 1:43 remaining in the half. Luka DiFilippo won the ensuing faceoff and drilled a shot into the back of the net to put the Little Giants in front 11-1 at the break.
Charlie Rafalko scored five goals in the second half, and teammate Evan Bair tallied three goals and handed out four assists for the game to help Wabash cruise to the win in front of a loud and supportive Little Giant crowd.
Wabash outshot Earlham 75-8 for the game. The Little Giants finished 2-of-5 on extra-man opportunities. The Quakers score one of their two goals in a man-up opportunity. DiFillippo won 16 of 18 faceoff chances and led Wabash with 11 ground balls. Cam Fecht, Lucas Cunningham, Eli Backus, Sam Santiago, Hank Henry, and Luca Flaim each recorded two caused turnovers on 37 Earlham turnovers.
Starting goalkeeper Colin Krekeler and backup Brody Carr each made one save on four shots on goal by the Quakers.
Wabash travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, next Saturday to face Muskingum University in a neutral-site game at Mount St. Joseph University.
