Three firsts for the Skyhawks give Stonehill its first win of the season

HERSHEY, Pa. (October 29, 2016) – The Stonehill College ice hockey team opened its 2016-17 season with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Lebanon Valley College Saturday night at Hersheypark Arena.

Stonehill (1-0-0) saw three players tally their first-career goals including Conor Cassidy (Wilmington, Del./Canterbury and Kents Hill), Connor Collier (Madison, N.J./New Jersey Hitmen-USPHL) and Cameron Wright (West Dummerston, Vt./Vermont Academy). Evan Jacques (Norton, Mass./South Shore Kings-EJHL) was the only Skyhawk to record an assist, where he helped Collier's power-play goal in the third period. The Skyhawk's Billy Palmer (Cranston, R.I./Boston Bandits-EHL) recorded 41 saves on the night out of the 43 shots taken by the Dutchmen.

Lebanon Valley (0-1-0) saw Zach McKown and Brennan Thompson registered the goals in the loss.

The Dutchmen acted early on the Skyhawks, as with only 2:46 elapsed in the first period, McKown found the back of the cage 46 seconds after Lebanon Valley killed its penalty regaining full strength. Stonehill responded later in the first frame, as Cassidy picked up his first goal as a freshman, 10 seconds after a faceoff. At the end of the first, Lebanon held a 13-5 shot advantage.

Lebanon Valley was able to regain its one-goal lead as Cody Pessig and Eric Higgins dished the puck off to Thompson who found the open hole with 12:20 elapsed in the second period. The Dutchmen once again held the shot advantage in the game with 16-6 at the end of the second frame.

The Skyhawks were able to knot up the game as Jacques sent a pass to Collier who was able to record his first-career goal at the 7:12 mark. Collier also picked up his first-career penalty-play goal as the Dutchmen were shorthanded after a 6:50 penalty.

Right out of the faceoff, Wright beat the Dutchmen defenders, as he was able to give the Skyhawks its first lead of the game and win of the season, as Stonehill was able to hold off Lebanon Valley in the remaining minutes of the game.

Overall the Dutchmen out shot the Skyhawks 43-18, as Stonehill was able to capitalize on one of six power plays by Lebanon Valley.

Stonehill faces Lebanon Valley once more tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Hersheypark Arena.

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