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Men's Hockey: Saint Michael’s Three Game Win Streak Snapped in 3-2 Loss to NEC

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Created on Saturday, 04 February 2012 04:24

Written by George Commo

Third Period Rally Falls Short

Courtesy St. Michael's Sports Information

HENNIKER, N.H. - The Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team fired off 22 shots during the final frame but were unable to complete the two-goal comeback as they lost to New England College 3-2 on Friday in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East contest at Lee Clement Arena. The Purple Knights drop to 5-11-2 overall and 3-9-1 in the ECAC East, while the Pilgrims drop to 9-7-4 and 6-4-3.

Junior Michael Jangro (Reading, Mass./Valley Jr. Warriors) and freshman Will Cote (Quebec City, Quebec/Rice Memorial) each tallied a goal for the Purple Knights, while freshman defenseman Mark Higgins (Plainville, Mass./Bridgewater Bandits) contributed two assists for his fourth straight game with at least one point. Junior Eric McGuirk (Rehoboth, Mass./Bridgewater Bandits) saved 20 shots in his third start of the season.

Senior Niko Uola (Turku, Finland/Portland Jr. Piirates) and sophomore Samuli Turunen (Joensuu, Finland/Jokipojat) scored a goal and contributed a helper for the Pilgrims, while senior Johan Qvarfordt (Sodertalji, Sweden/Sodertalje Hockey Club) finished off the scoring for the hosts. Sophomore Sebastian Anderson (Sundyberg, Sweden/Sollentuna) turned aside 37 shots, including 21 of 22 in the final stanza, for the Pilgrims who tied No. 4 Castleton State College, 4-4, last Saturday.

The Purple Knights outshot the Pilgrims 8 to 7 during the first stanza and skated into the second intermission locked in a scoreless tie, thanks in part to McGuirk stopping all seven shots.

The Pilgrims took a 1-0 lead at 2:16 of the second period when Uola put one home, but the Purple Knights quickly knotted the score at one after Cote received a pass from Higgins and fired one past Anderson. Turunen gave the Pilgrims a one-goal lead just over two minutes later at 8:16 and then Qvarfordt tallied the eventual game-winner on the power play at the 14:08 mark.

Jangro cut the Purple Knight’s deficit in half when he scored a power play marker at 14:51 and Saint Michaels continued to pressure and try to knot the score, but was unable to put another one past Anderson, despite outshooting the Pilgrims 22 to 5.

The Purple Knights continue their road trip when they travel to Manchester, N.H. on Saturday for an ECAC East match-up against Saint Anselm College at 4 p.m.