Fawcett scores first to quash Golden Bears 3-1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Salve Regina (8-1-0, 6-0-0) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
Western New Eng. (2-5-1, 1-4-1) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass-- Matthew Fawcett, Johnny Mulera and Garrett Szeremley led the Salve Regina University men's ice hockey team to 3-1 win over the Western New England Golden Bears on Sunday. The two-game series ended in successes both nights for the Seahawks after the team defeated the Golden Bears 3-0 on Friday night.
The scoring didn't come until 30 minutes into the contest, but when the action started Salve Regina could not be stopped from achieving three consecutive goals in the second period.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Salve Regina 3, Western New England 1
Records: Salve Regina (8-1,6-0), Western New England (2-5-1,1-4-1)
All-Time Series: Including tonight's result the Salve Regina Seahawks are 33-9 against the Western New England Golden Bears.
BREAKDOWN:
- Period I: The day started off with Seahawks' Damon Zimer in the circle with Golden Bears' Matt Dougherty and a faceoff win for Salve Regina. Hoon Kim took the first shot of the contest, but Andrew LoRusso was there to make the save. With 6:08 to play in the first 20 minutes Salve Regina went on the penalty kill after the team was called for cross-checking but no short hand or power play goals came as a result. As the clock ticked down, with 2:59 remaining the Seahawks saw a power play opportunity after the Golden Bears ended up in the sin bin on a hooking infraction. 20 minutes of play down, Salve Regina outshot Western New England 16 to 11, winning 14 faceoffs in comparison with Golden Bears' nine.
- Period II: A fresh glaze on the ice in the second period kept the fast-paced game exciting and fans on the edges of their seats. Just about four minutes into the period Seth Benson nearly got the puck in the net, with a shot just outside the crease and a perfect angle but LoRusso made an impressive save. Matthew Brunton followed Benson up with a slap shot, bouncing it off the pads of LoRusso. Matthew Fawcett broke the stalemate at 10:07 into the action, centered between the Seahawks attack zone faceoff dots. The score became 1-0. Fawcett was assisted by Johnny Mulera. LoRusso made a diving save shortly after Fawcett's success, preventing a connective Seahawk goal. However, the Seahawks proved Friday night's win wasn't an anomaly because with just over a minute to go in the second period, Johnny Mulera whacked the puck (from Matthew Fawcett) into the net. Responding to Mulera's achievement, on a wrist shot, Garret Szeremley added to the total (from Ian Tookenay) making it a 3-0 game.
- Period III Ten minutes in, with back and forth shots on goal and no scoring change the Seahawks were called for hooking. Shortly after the team was called for tripping, resulting in a 45 second five on three Golden Bear power play opportunity and Selby Warren was forced to make a critical save. One Seahawk skater returned to the contest, but Western New England was still up five on four. The Golden Bears took the opportunity and Shane Miller found the net, getting the team on the board for the first time in the evening. Miller brought the score to 3-1 with the Seahawks still ahead. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty resulted in a Western New England ejection. Animation from both teams made it a four on four game. Salve Regina was called for high sticking and goaltender interference creating a five on three penalty kill for Salve Regina. The Seahawks were able to defend themselves and ended the day 3-1.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Selby Warren ended the night with 26 saves and allowed one goal, giving him a save percentage of .963.
- Golden Bears' Andrew LoRusso made 44 saves and had three goals against, resulting in a .936 save percentage.
- The Seahawks took 90 shots, and the Golden Bears took 48 shots across three periods.
- Salve Regina was called on five penalties. Western New England made six infractions.
- Assisting the goalie, Salve Regina had 10 blocks and Western New England made 16 blocks.
ON THE HORIZON:
Next week men's ice hockey travels to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for the Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational. The Seahawks duel with SUNY Brockport on Saturday, November 25 at 5 p.m. Depending on the result, the Salve Regina will either go up against Skidmore College or Tufts University on the following Sunday.