Posted: Nov 09, 2013
Salve Regina University sophomore Cameron Gaudet (Burlington, Mass./UMass Lowell)scored an unassisted short-handed goal in the sixth minute of the second period that proved to be the game-winner in a 6-3 decision over visiting Suffolk University in ECAC Northeast action at Portsmouth Abbey.
It was the conference opener for both schools as Salve Regina improves to 3-0-0 overall while Suffolk (1-1-0) suffers its first loss of the season. The Seahawks are now 10-8-2 all-time against the Rams, the alma mater of current Salve Regina head coach Andy Boschetto.
"It's nice getting off to an undefeated start, but we still have a lot to work on," said the fourth-year head coach.
Salve Regina had built a 6-0 lead with three goals in the first, two in the second, and another in the third, before Suffolk mounted its mini-comeback with three unanswered goals in the final period.
A first-period power-play led to sophomore Peter Gintoli (Monroe, Conn./Bay State Breakers) scoring his second goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. Senior Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md./Avon Old Farms) and freshmanJonathan Felteau (Peabody, Mass./Mass. Cyclones) set up the Gintoli goal.
Felteau got some help from Gintoli and sophomore Alec Butler (Marlborough, Mass./Boston Jr. Bruins) for the rookie's first collegiate goal at 15:38 in the first. Junior Michael Naso (Londonderry, N.H./Mass. Cyclones) made it a 3-0 score before the end of the period with help from reigning ECAC Northeast rookie of the week Parker Bowen(Pembroke, Mass./Boston Bandits) and Butler.
Starting Seahawk goaltender Jake Williams (Montreal, Quebec/Mercyhurst) faced 14 shots in the first two periods and stopped them all.
His counterpart, sophomore Brandon Smolarek (Chesterfield, Mo./Capitol District), was lifted after Gaudet's shorthanded goal at 5:50 in the second made it 4-0 in favor of Salve Regina.
Bowen scored his second goal of the season, and the first against relief goaltender Brett Roman (Rock Tavern, N.Y./New York) before the end of the second period. Naso and Butler provided assists.
Naso's power-play goal at 7:50 in the third, with assists from Gaudet and sophomore Marc Biggs (Dallas, Texas/Texas Tornado), put the game in runaway mode. But Suffolk regrouped and continue its excellent work on faceoffs.
The Rams broke through Williams for the first time at 10:33. Freshman Simon Leahy (Milwaukee, Wisc./Northern Cyclones) converted a Stanton Turner (San Francisco, Calif./Walpole) missed shot into his first collegiate goal. Turner added another assist when junior Tim Sprague (Plymouth, Mass./South Shore) scored at 12:55 for his third goal of the season.
Suffolk had three goals in less than four minutes when senior Charlie McGinniss (Hanover, Mass./Bay State Breakers) scored his first of the season.
The Seahawks, unbeaten through the first three games for the first time since the 2007-08 season, play their first road game of the season against Wentworth Institute of Technology at UMass Lowell's Tsongas Arena on Tuesday. It will be the first meeting between the Leopards and Seahawks since last season's championship game at Northeastern's Matthews Arena; a 3-1 victory for Wentworth on March 3, 2013.
Suffolk returns to Rhode Island on Thursday to play at Johnson & Wales University.
(Story courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information)