The Hamilton College Continentals wasted no time gaining an early lead over Wesleyan University, tallying six shots and scoring twice in the first three minutes. The Continentals added one goal in the second period and two more in the third for a 5-2 NESCAC victory in Middletown, Conn., on Sunday afternoon.

Anthony Tirabassi '20 made a season-high 34 saves for Hamilton (11-6-1, 5-6-1 NESCAC) and Tim Sestak made 24 stops for Wesleyan (9-5-4, 5-4-3).

After scoring his first collegiate goal in his first game with the Continentals back on Nov. 17, Cameron Radziwon '20 -- a sophomore transfer from Division I Colgate University -- snapped his cold streak just 1:09 after the opening puck drop. Sam Jones '20 intercepted a pass in front of Hamilton's bench and ricocheted the puck off the boards to Radziwon skating into the Wesleyan zone. Radziwon sniped a shot from the right faceoff dot that went just under the crossbar.

Jon Beniers '21 recorded his first collegiate goal just 1:14 after Radziwon scored to give Hamilton a 2-0 lead 2:23 into the first period. The Continentals regained possession of the puck in the neutral zone and Ian Nichols '19 passed to Justin Felhaber '21, who flipped the puck to Beniers charging into the Cardinals' end. Sestak stopped Beniers' first shot, but Beniers maintained control and backhanded the rebound into the net.

Wesleyan cut its deficit in half with 2:40 left in the first. Jordan Rose fired a shot from the faceoff circle that was denied by Tirabassi, but the rebound fell behind the goal and Tyler Kobryn tapped the puck back to Rose, who wrapped around the net and backhanded the puck inside the right post.  

Dylan Holze tied the score for the Cardinals 12:56 into the second stanza. Marty Rubin took a shot from the point that was stopped by Tirabassi. Holze grabbed the rebound and again Tirabassi made the save, but Holze's second attempt crossed the goal line.

Brandon Willett '18 returned the lead to Hamilton less than two minutes later. T.J. Daigler '18 won the puck battle in the corner and passed to Sam Jones '20 at the point. Jones slapped a shot into Sestak's pads, but Willett was there to slam the rebound into the upper-left corner of the goal at 14:31. Hamilton entered the second intermission with a one-goal advantage at 3-2.

Kobryn was penalized for boarding at the 13:40 mark of the third period, and the Continentals scored two insurance goals during the five-minute major. Nick Ursitti '20 and Willett set up a perfect screen in front of the goal for Sean Allen '21 to release a slap shot from the point that tucked inside the right post at 14:02. Down by two goals, Wesleyan emptied the net with 4:01 left. The Cardinals managed two shots on goal before Radziwon added his second of the night with 1:34 remaining.

Hamilton returns to Russell Sage Rink for two NESCAC games next weekend. The Continentals first host Colby College at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 followed by Bowdoin College on Saturday at 3 p.m.