BRIDGEWATER, MASS. (October 8, 2022)- The Stonehill College men's ice hockey team made its debut as a Division I program as an independent team and took on fellow independent men's ice hockey team, Long Island University. However, the Sharks topped the Skyhawks by a score of 7-1 Saturday afternoon at the Bridgewater Ice Arena. 

Scoring

LIU: Anthony Vincent (assist: Jordan DiCicco and Nolan Welsh), 09:34, 1st period

       Jordan DiCicco (assist: Preston Brodziak and Nolan Welsh), 13:49, 1st period

       Noah Kane (assist: Santeri Hartikainen and Spencer Cox), 18:49, 2nd period

       Josh Zary (assist: Valtteri Piironen and Preston Brodziak), 19:15, 2nd period

       Anthony Vincent (assist: Valtteri Piironen), 08:26, 3rd period

       Nolan Welsh (assist: Jack Quinn), 10:26, 3rd period

       Daniel Baldassarra (assist: Adam Goodsir and Nolan Welsh), 16:36, 3rd period

STO: Frank Ireland (assist: Will Cohen and Carter Rapalje), 19:41, 1st period

Goalkeeping

LIU: Vinnie Purpura (60:00)-15 saves

STO: John Day (60:00)-23 saves

The Details

• A little halfway through the first, Long Island struck first as Vincent took a pass from DiCicco which allowed him to send his shot past Day for an early 1-0 Sharks lead. Nearly four minutes later at (6:11), DiCicco was on the scoring end of a goal for an early 2-0 advantage.
• Despite the deficit, Stonehill responded with just 19 seconds left in the first when Ireland received a pass from Rapalje after Cohen rimmed the puck to him on the right wing. After Ireland made a great inside move to beat the Sharks defender, he fired a shot past Purpura and cut Long Island's lead to one (2-1). Ireland's goal is the first in his career and it also marked the first Division I goal scored in the program's history. 
• Stonehill carried their momentum into the second as Ireland nearly tied the game at two just 11 seconds into the period but Purpura made the stop and kept the lead at one. Both sides continued to battle in the send as each school's defense and goalies kept their respective squads within striking distance. Long Island peppered Day with seven shots early and he turned the Sharks away.
• However, with a little over a minute remaining (1:15), Long Island pushed their back to two (3-1) after Kane put his shot past Day. Not even 30 seconds later (00:49), the Sharks added one more goal this time off the stick of Zary and Long Island took a three-goal advantage (4-1) into the end of the second period. 
• Long Island ended up adding on three more goals in the final period courtesy of Vincent, Welsh, and Baldassarra to help secure a 7-1 win.
• Day got the start for the season-opener for the second year in a row and finished with 23 saves on the day. Day's 23 saves marked the 15th time in his career he finished with 20 or more stops. 

Up Next

Stonehill continues their homestand hosting Salve Regina on Saturday, October 15 at 5 p.m.

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