Colorado College thought Saturday would be an easy win. Long Island made sure they had to earn it.

The Tigers did prevail 3-2 to secure the nonconference home sweep Saturday and record their best start since the 2011-12 team went 18-16-2, the last winning season record for the program, dating back to the now-defunct men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The start is a big steppingstone for the 4-0 Tigers and also a learning one.

“The chances we were giving up were major breakdowns and that is what we have to clean up,” Tigers coach Kris Mayotte said. “I don’t think we had buy-in that if we don’t have numbers back they can hurt you. That is something we have to fix, fast.”

“We are happy with the two wins but those were as fortunate a two wins as you can have.”

The Tigers pulled ahead when freshman Zaccharya Wisdom collected an unforced Sharks turnover, took two strides and rifled a low shot past Sharks goalie Rico DiMatteo (24 saves) just 5:46 into the second period.

“We didn’t play our game to the best of our ability,” Wisdom said. “We could have been better in a lot of areas but as Coach said, a win’s a win.”

The score would hold thanks to a solid, but uneven performance by CC sophomore Kaidan Mbereko (25 saves), who made a key stop on a breakaway with four minutes left in the second and another on a shorthanded breakaway in the third to secure the win.

“He did but he wasn’t sharp,” Mayotte said. “For him to not to be sharp and not controlling rebounds and then still come up with the big saves when we needed it, I think that is an incredible step for him. That is something our team needs from everyone. You may not have you A game but you have to contribute.”

CC jumped out to a 2-0 lead on scores by Tyler Coffey, who redirected in a shot by Evan Werner, and a power-play tally for freshman Max Burkholder, who recorded his first NCAA goal after his score was waved off in Friday night’s series opener.

But opportunistic Long Island (1-5) battled back, answering Burkholder’s goal 53 seconds later when Josh Zary knocked in a rebound. LIU would continue to generate scoring chances off CC turnovers. Chris Pappas, who helped open Ed Robson Arena two seasons ago when playing for St. Lawrence, scored with 1:59 left in the first to tie it at 2-2.

The game was chippy before it began with 6-foot-4 wingers Gleb Veremyev and Austin Brimmer jostling before the opening faceoff, setting the tone for a hard-hitting series finale.

Colorado College forward Zaccharya Wisdom (2) tries to score against Long Island University during the first period of a college hockey game Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Parker Seibold, The Gazette)

Parker Seibold