Seahawks win season-opener at UNE, 3-2

BIDDEFORD, Maine - Senior defenseman Nathaniel Burns (Sandwich, Mass.) scored with 5:45 remaining to give the Salve Regina University Seahawks a 3-2 win over the University of New England Nor'easters in a mutual opener for the two non-league opponents Friday night before a crowd of 348 at Biddeford Arena.

After his team had let an early 2-0 lead get away, Burns' wrist-shot from just inside the blue line beat UNE junior goaltender Mike Roper (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia). Junior Billy Sabia (Ridgefield, Conn.) and senior captain Patrick Bambery (Braintree, Mass.) assisted on the play.

Trailing 2-0, the Nor'easters came storming back with a pair of second-period goals. First-year Jake Moscatel (Lexington, Mass.) cut UNE's deficit in half at 7:39, then sophomore Tim Margiotta (Randolph, N.J.) knotted the score at 2-2 six minutes later. First-year Scott McManaman (Amherst, Nova Scotia) had a hand in both UNE goals.

The Seahawks got themselves on the scoreboard early after the Nor'easters were assessed a protocol penalty to start the game. Bambery would take advantage of the man-up situation, stuffing the puck into the cage at the 1:15 mark.

After the two teams went into first intermission with the visitors leading 1-0, Salve struck again at 5:18 of the second on a goal by Joe Colaianni.

Sophomore Ben Bradley (Newburyport, Mass.)played a strong game between the pipes for the Seahawks, stopping 41 of 43 shots on goal.

First-year Dallas Ungurian (Edmonton, Alberta) and Roper split time in goal for UNE. Ungurian made 13 saves, Roper 16.

Salve Regina will return to the ice Tuesday at Suffolk University (7 p.m.). The Nor'easters are idle until next Friday (Nov. 20) when they open ECAC Men's East Hockey play versus No. 12 Norwich University at 7 p.m.

Courtesy of Univ. of New England sports information