Larsen’s three points carry Greyhounds; Ranalli notches two for Skyhawks

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 17, 2010) – The Stonehill College men’s ice hockey team dropped a 3-2 decision at Assumption College on Wednesday evening to open Northeast-10 Conference competition.

Junior Mario Ranalli (Lakeville, Mass./Coyle Cassidy) led Stonehill with a goal and an assist, and sophomore Dana Borges (Taunton, Mass./Coyle Cassidy) added a goal. Junior goalkeeper Tyler Jackson (Little Silver, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) made 31 saves against the NE-10’s highest-scoring offense, but Assumption held the Skyhawks to a pair of second-period goals to claim the win.

The Greyhounds got three points from junior Taylor Larsen (Blackstone, Mass.), who scored twice to increase his conference-leading scoring total to six goals, and picked up a first-period assist. Sophomore Kyle Zobler (Millbury, Mass.) netted a goal, and junior Pat O’Kane (Hollis, N.H.) collected two assists. Junior goalkeeper Nick Blanchette (Stuart, Fla.) made 21 stops in the Assumption net to earn the decision.

Zobler netted the game’s first goal at 8:07 of the first period to push the Greyhounds out to a 1-0 lead that would stand through the first intermission, but Ranalli tied it two minutes into the second period with help from seniors Andrew Webb (Jaffrey, N.H./Westminster School) and Angelo Todesca (Westwood, Mass./Catholic Memorial).  Larsen took it back for Assumption at 14:36 with his first goal of the night, set up by O’Kane, and Stonehill responded three minutes later with a score from Borges, but Larsen added his second tally just before the end of the period to send the Greyhounds ahead 3-2.

Jackson stopped 11 shots in a scoreless third period to keep the game close, but Assumption killed off two late penalties to hold on for the victory as the Skyhawks finished the night 0 for 6 on the power play. The Greyhounds came up 0 for 8 with the man advantage.

Stonehill (1-4, 0-1 NE-10) will open their home schedule on Saturday, hosting Franklin Pierce University at the Foxboro Sports Center at 2 p.m.