They trailed from the opening minute of the game. And for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the frustration mounted for nearly the entire night.
A veteran defenseman changed everything in the final moments of regulation.
Zach Trotman delivered with time winding down, as one of his shots tied the game and another just 34 seconds later was tipped in by Jordy Bellerive to give the Penguins a 2-1 win at Utica on Friday night.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (6-5-1-1) had surrendered a power-play goal to Mitch Eliot just 58 seconds into the contest and then spent the rest of the night being stymied by the Comets and goalie Michael DiPietro.
On their way to a third straight loss, a holding penalty by Utica’s Josh Teves opened the door for the Penguins. And Trotman came through on the man-advantage, tying the game off a feed from Joseph Blandisi with 5:14 left in the third period.
Bellerive then got the winner on the next shift with helpers from Trotman and Jake Lucchini.
Dustin Tokarski stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn his first win a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton uniform.
The Penguins make their return home tonight when they host Syracuse at 7:05 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena.
COLLEGES
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Wilkes 72, PSU Scranton 28
The Colonels opened their 2019-20 season with their biggest margin of victory in eight years and the fewest points allowed in 10.
Freshman Macy Berryman debuted with 16 points to lead 14 different scorers for Wilkes, which finished with 19 steals and forced 30 turnovers.
King’s 83, Wesley 39
It couldn’t have been a better opening quarter of the season for the Monarchs, who didn’t allow a point in taking a 24-0 lead after one before coasting to a win.
Senior Rebecca Prociak led the way with 19 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks.
Misericordia 93, Valley Forge 41
Tessa Zamolyi scored a career-high 31 points and tied a school record with 14 made field goals as the Cougars won their season-opener on the road.
Zamolyi added 14 rebounds and Nora Tracey scored 14 points.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
King’s 70, PSU Hazleton 66
The Monarchs opened the season with a win, getting a standout debut from freshman Tyler Faux, who scored a game-high 19 points.
Penn State Hazleton erased a 15-point deficit in the second half and went up by four with 5:12 left. But a 3-pointer by Faux with 3:20 to go put King’s back in front and an Andrew Hudak layup broke a tie.
Wilkes 122, PSU Scranton 69
The Colonels torched Penn State Scranton for 63 points in the first half as veterans Rob Pecoreli and Mark Mullins each finished with 21 points apiece in a season-opening win.
Wilkes knocked down a whopping 18 threes in the win and went 47-for-81 (58 percent) from the field.
MEN’S HOCKEY
Wilkes 4, Lebanon Valley 3
Down 3-1 early in the third period, Wilkes rallied and used a pair of late goals to pick up the program’s first win under new coach Tyler Hynes.
Tyson Araujo started the comeback with a power-play goal before Joey Pasquini tied it up with 2:08 left in regulation and Phil Erickson got the winner just 19 seconds later. Araujo had two goals for the Colonels while Dylan Kuipers picked up an assist on the last two goals.
SWIMMING
King’s teams top LebVal
Jared Stephan set a new school record in the 400 IM (4:18.58) as the Monarchs men beat Lebanon Valley 133-53.
On the women’s side, King’s earned a 152-49 win.
By Derek Levarse
dlevarse@timesleader.com