Johnson & Wales defeats Salve Regina, 4-1

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - Freshman Max Carter (Royal Oak, Mich.) scored his fifth goal of the season 56 seconds into the third period to snap a one-all tie and propel the Johnson & Wales University men's ice hockey team to a 4-1 win over Salve Regina University in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast action Saturday night at Portsmouth Abbey Arena.

Sophomore Jeremiah Ketts (Foristell, Mo.) added a goal and an assist for the Wildcats, who swept the season series between the two schools and improved to 8-13-0 (5-5-0 ECAC) with the win. Junior Bryan Russell (Essex Junction, Vt.) scored the lone goal for the Seahawks, who slid to 1-19-1 (0-9-1 ECAC).

The Seahawks appeared to have momentum heading into the third period, having tied the game on Russell's short-handed goal with 46 seconds remaining in the second period. Carter helped JWU grab the upper hand early in the third as he took a pass from sophomore Domenic Recchia (Sterling Height, Mich.) and beat senior goalie Ryan Comerford (Merrimac, N.H.) for a short-handed goal, giving JWU a 2-1 lead. Senior Stephen Pfeiffer (Queens, N.Y.) made it a 3-1 game when he scored his first of the year off a feed from Recchia at 11:41, and with Comerford on the bench for an extra attacker, freshman Jason Pietrasiak (Shrewsbury, Mass.) sealed the win with an empty netter at 17:10, his 17th of the season.

"We didn't come to play for 60 minutes tonight," said Salve Regina head coach Andy LeColst. "That first short-handed goal took what wind we had out of us. Our biggest thing is the shift right after a goal, whether it's for us or against us. It's the biggest shift of the game, and it's just not there for us right now."

The Wildcats opened the scoring at 7:08 of the first period when junior Craig Houle (Burrillville, R.I.) fed Ketts for a shot that eluded Comerford and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Minutes after Salve Regina junior Joe Colaianni (Monroe, N.Y.) rang a backhand shot off the crossbar on a breakaway, Russell broke in alone and beat junior JR Woodland (Picton, Ontario) five-hole to even the game at one.

The Seahawks outshot the Wildcats 36-33 on the evening. Woodland improved to 4-6-0 with the win while Comerford fell to 0-2-1 with the loss. Each team failed to convert on the power-play; Johnson & Wales finished the night 0-for-6 while Salve Regina went 0-for-8.

Salve Regina returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Milton, Mass. for a 4:35 contest with Curry. The Wildcats host Becker Wednesday at 7:55 pm.