Two goals from Higgins gives Skyhawks first victory of the new year

BOSTON, Mass. (January 7, 2017) – The Stonehill College men's ice hockey team picked up its first win of the new year in a 4-3 victory over Becker College Saturday afternoon at Warrior Ice Arena in the inaugural Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational.

Stonehill (4-9-2) saw Brian Higgins (Milton, Mass./Proctor Academy) record two goals in the third period to edge the Skyhawks over the Hawks, as Conor Cassidy (Wilmington, Del./Canterbury and Kents Hill) and Cameron Wright (West Dummerston, Vt./Springfield Pics-USPHL Premier) registered one goal apiece to assist in the win. Billy Palmer (Cranston, R.I./Boston Bandits-EHL Premier) tallied 37 saves in the afternoon. Senior Evan Jacques (Norton, Mass./South Shore Kings-EJHL) was named as Player of the Tournament for Stonehill.

Becker (4-10-0) saw three different goal scorers in Bryan Parsons, Connor Allison and Dylan Durham. Goaltender Grant Martens recorded 27 saves in the loss. The Hawks capitalized on three of the five power plays to score their three goals.

Both teams reacted early in the game as Cassidy found the back of the cage off passes from Jack Hall (Shelburne, Vt./Proctor Academy) and Wright for his fifth goal of the season at 4:24. With one second before the end of the frame, Becker utilized their man-advantage as John Dutney and Corey Sherman assisted in Parsons' second goal of the season, tying the game at one.

After a scoreless second period and two man-advantage opportunities for both teams, the third period saw five goals in 15 minutes.

Stonehill kicked off the third period with an unassisted goal by freshman Wright for his fifth of the season at 2:49. Allison tallied his third goal of the season for the Hawks as Parsons and Durham dished the puck off to him tying the game once again at two at 6:30. About five minutes later Higgins entered the crease as Connor Jewett (Berlin, N.H./NH Junior Monarchs-EHL Premier) slapped the puck to him for a goal advantage at 11:08, 3-2, in favor of the Skyhawks.

Durham responded three minutes later at 14:53 with the Hawks' third power play goal of the game with assists from Allison and Connor Merrick. Higgins recorded his third tally of the season at 17:38 after Jewett won a faceoff putting the Skyhawks up once again, 4-3. Stonehill held the lead for the remaining time picking up its first victory of the new year.

Stonehill continues a five-game streak away from home facing Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday, January 10 for a 7:00 p.m. start time.

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