South Burlington, Vt. – A goal and two assists from junior captain Brendan O’Brien (Braintree, Mass./Deerfield) helped the Skyhawks (11-9-2, 3-1 Northeast-10) overcome two first-period power-play goals to defeat the Saint Michael’s Purple Knights (10-14-1, 4-1 NE-10), 5-3.  With a win Tuesday night the Purple Knights would have clinched the Northeast-10 Regular Season Championship.  Instead, it is Stonehill College with an inside track to the season crown with one game remaining.

Saint Michael’s Chris Healey drew first blood with a power-play goal 6:15 into the first period.  Matt Curran (Scarborough, Maine/North Yarmouth) evened the score minutes later with his 11^th goal of the year. 

After a Stonehill penalty, Purple Knight Bryan Dodge added his third marker of the season to put the home team up 2-1.  Two quick strikes from Stonehill’s Frank Amato (West Springfield, Mass./Loomis Chaffee) and O’Brien came within two minutes of one-another, spotting the Skyhawks a 3-2 advantage headed into the second period.  

Saint Michael’s scored a short-handed goal five minutes into the second frame to tie the score at 3-3.   The Purple Knights’ first short-handed goal of the year came when Ryan Mero, the leading scorer in the Northeast-10 Conference, nailed home his 18^th marker.  Stonehill retained the lead when senior Brian Davis (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) registered his eighth goal on a power play opportunity minutes later.   

Saint Michael's looked to tie things up late in the period on a spin move by Erik Caron, but a diving Mike Manna (Framingham, Mass./Xaverian) dashed the Purple Knights hopes of a tie entering the final period.

Paul Reissfelder (Plymouth, Mass./Tilton) put the final nail in the coffin with his ninth goal this season.  Reissfelders' marker was the lone score in the third frame.  

In addition to scoring earlier, seniors Davis and Curran each registered an assist in the 5-3 victory.  Sophomore Peter Roundy (Simsbury, Conn./Kimball) joined Davis and Curran with two total points on two assists.

John Durkin (Scituate, Mass./Pomfret), Chase Feole (Windham, N.H./Salem) and Bill Ninteau (Litchfield, N.H./Bishop Guertin) added a helper each, as well.  Once again, O’Brien led the way with a goal and two assists for three total points.

Manna held the Purple Knights scoreless in the third period to improve his personal record to 8-5-1.  He finished with 37 saves.

The Conference victory moves Stonehill into second place with one game remaining.  A win Thursday night over Saint Anselm will give the Skyhawks the Northeast-10 Regular Season Championship.  The puck drops at 6:50 p.m. at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.