Junior Robbie Dorgan scored a first period goal in Stonehill's 3-1 NE-10 Tournament semifinal loss to Saint Anselm today. |
Senior goaltender Chris Tasiopoulos makes game-high 40 saves in final career start for Skyhawks
FOXBORO, Mass. (February 21, 2015) – The third-seeded Saint Anselm College ice hockey team outscored second-seeded Stonehill College 3-0 over the final two periods of action to earn a 3-1, comeback victory this afternoon in the semifinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Ice Hockey Championship at the Foxboro Sports Center.
Saint Anselm (10-13-3, 2-1-2 NE-10) advances to next Saturday's NE-10 Championship game to take on the winner of tonight's other semifinal contest between top-seeded Saint Michael's College and fourth-seeded Assumption College.
Stonehill led 1-0 after the first period, but the Hawks equalized in the second before scoring twice in the third. Saint Anselm held a 43-25 edge in shots, and was also able to convert on two of its power play opportunities.
Senior goaltender Chris Tasiopoulos (Norwell, Massachusetts/Thayer Academy) was impressive in the final start of his Stonehill career, stopping a game-high 40 shots, including 17 in the first period. Tasiopoulos has totaled 40+ saves in each of his last three starts against Saint Anselm, highlighted by his career-best 48-save effort on February 10th in Manchester.
Saint Anselm freshman netminder Shane Joyce (Pembroke, Massachusetts/PAL Islanders) also posted a strong performance between the pipes, turning aside 24 of the 25 shots that came his way.
Stonehill opened the scoring 12:29 into the first period, as juniors Robbie Dorgan (Ossining, New York/Boston Bulldogs) and Richard Harris (Grand Island, New York/Valley Jr. Warriors) capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity to stake the Skyhawks to a 1-0 lead. Harris sent a pass across the slot to Dorgan, who one-timed a shot past Joyce for his tenth goal of the season.
Still trailing 1-0 late in the second period, Saint Anselm broke through for the equalizer at the 16:56 mark. Freshman defenseman Easton Miller (Mission Viejo, California/Taft School) ripped a slap shot from the point that found its way into the net, as Tasiopoulos was screened with several bodies in front of him. The contest would head into the second intermission tied at one.
The Hawks then grabbed the lead for good just over seven minutes into the third period on a play similar to their first goal. Playing with a man advantage after Stonehill junior Thomas Jenkins (Canton, Massachusetts/Williston Northampton) was whistled for a tripping penalty, Saint Anselm senior defenseman Matt Buckley (Canton, Massachusetts/Bridgton Academy) snuck a wrist shot past Tasiopoulos with the help of another screen.
Stonehill had a couple solid chances to pull even over the final ten minutes of the game, but was unable to find the back of the net. Senior forward Kevin Aufiero (Canton, Massachusetts/Walpole Express) cut through the Saint Anselm defense less than a minute after the Hawks took the lead, but his backhand shot rung off the post. Aufiero was then on the receiving end of a pass from junior Garrett White (Wakefield, Massachusetts/Boston Bulldogs) at the 11:55 mark, but Joyce saved the one-time attempt with a sliding effort.
After a pair of late Stonehill penalties gave Saint Anselm a 5-on-3 power play, Sullivan potted an empty-netter with 24 seconds on the clock to seal the Hawks' victory.
Stonehill, which captured a share of its second consecutive regular season NE-10 title this winter, finishes its 2014-15 campaign at 14-6-4, including 8-0-2 in conference play.
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