EAST BOSTON – Suffolk men's hockey challenged No. 11 University of New England, commanded the third period, but could not overtake the nationally ranked conference counterpart as the Rams fell to the Nor'Easters, 3-1, Friday night at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink in Commonwealth Coast Conference play.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | No. 11 UNE 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-6-0, 0-5-0 CCC) | No. 11 UNE (3-2-1, 3-1-1 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNE grabbed a 1-0 edge with 2:22 remaining in the opening period as Jacob Pellerin put away a feed from Ryan Kuzmich. Juraj Elias helped set up the game-opening goal by wining the puck on the boards in the Rams' defensive end.
The visitors doubled their advantage 12:19 into the second period. Dylan Schuett sniped a shot over Chris Jackson's stick side shoulder to pad UNE's lead 2-0. Dawson Ellis assisted on the goal.
Suffolk trimmed the gap to one three minutes later when Adam McNabney turned Nick Liotino's pass into his first collegiate point. Will MacNeil had a stick on Suffolk's score as well.
The Rams tested UNE's goalie Billy Girard in the third period, peppering him with 17 shots. The veteran netminder turned aside all of Suffolk's attempts and the Nor'Easters netted an empty netter with 36 seconds remaining in regulation for the 3-1 final.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Jackson had 26 saves in the setback.
- Girard put together a 36-save performance, 17 of which came in the third period, in the victory.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- MacNabney was responsible for the Rams only goal.
- Liotino and MacNeil handed out one assist each.
- Suffolk outshot UNE, 37-29.
- The blue-and-gold won the face off battle, 39-31.
- The Rams skated off their three penalties.
NOTEWORTHY
- McNabney produced his first collegiate point with one goal.
- Liotino and MacNeil each dished out their second assist of the year.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk and UNE will close out the home-and-home series tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 18 when the Rams take their talents to Biddeford, Maine for a 7 p.m. rematch with the Nor'Easters.
