MANCHESTER, N.H. – Forward Tucker Mullin (Andover, Mass.) recorded his eighth-career multiple goal game Saturday afternoon, but the Hawks were unable to muster additional offense as the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team fell to the Beacons of the University of Massachusetts at Boston by a 3-2 final score. The Hawks, losers of two-straight games, feature a 6-5-3 overall record alongside a 3-5-2 ECAC Men's East record. The Beacons captured their fourth-straight victory this afternoon, improving to 9-6-2 overall on the season and to 5-5-0 within conference play.
Forward Andrew Burke scored the game-winning goal for the Beacons at 13:11 of the third period, securing the victory near the period's mid-point. Forward Jim Ennis pushed a shot on net from between the hash marks that was turned aside by Hawks goaltender Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.). The rebound spilled out to the right post where it was gathered by forward Anthony Fitti. A nifty pass across the goal mouth was forced home by Burke for the game-winning goal.
Mullin's first goal of the afternoon came at 8:09 of the first period, placing Saint Anselm on the scoreboard by a 1-0 margin. Following an offensive zone face-off win by forward Sean Jenkins (Boston, Mass.), Mullin gathered the puck and flipped it on net past goaltender Kevin Bendel for the strike.
Forward Faiz Khan scored the Beacons' first goal of the game at 7:31 of the second period, knotting the score at one apiece near the period's midpoint. Following several failed clear attempts by the Hawks, forward Mark Grinhaus intercepted the puck and fired a shot on net that missed wide. The puck traveled all the way up to the left point where forward Bill Baker powered a shot on net. Positioned at the top of the crease, Khan tipped the puck past Kang for the game-tying strike.
Forward Bryan Albert added an even-strength goal only 1:07 after Khan's strike, doubling up the Hawks by a 2-1 margin. Entering the zone on a fast break, junior forward Mike DeGrazia fired a shot intentionally wide of the Saint Anselm net that was tipped home by Albert for the strike. UMass Boston goaltender Kevin Bendel collected the second assist on the play.
Mullin's second goal of the game was also his sixth of the season, coming at 10:48 of the third period to knot the score at two. From behind the Hawks goal, forward Tim King (Weymouth, Mass.) sent a pass to the top of the left point where it was gathered by senior defenseman Ryan Holley (Bethany Beach, Del.). Quickly dishing the puck across the blueline to defensive partner Greg Merrill (Brighton, Mich.), a powerful one-timer was tipped at the top of the crease by Mullin for the game-tying goal.
For the Hawks, Kang (3-1-1) drew only his first defeat of the season, turning aside 23-of-26 shots on net. Bendel (5-4-0) earned his fifth victory of the year, halting 41-of-43 shots on net.
The Hawks were 1-for-2 on the power play. The Beacons did not have an extra man opportunity.
NOTABLES: The Hawks fall to 28-24-1 all-time against the Beacons of the University of Massachusetts at Boston…Forward Tim King is riding a modest four-game point streak, scoring a goal and four assists for five points (1-4=5) during that span…King has also recorded at least a point in seven of his last eight games…Goaltender Robert Kang lost his first game of the season in this afternoon's contest…The Hawks conclude their five-game home stand with a 1-2-2 record…Prior to this afternoon's contest, the Hawks honored Head Coach Ed Seney and his 300th career victory earlier this season against Southern New Hampshire University; his family and the team's captains presented Seney with a framed "300" jersey in honor of his achievement.
The Hawks hit the road as they will face-off against the Spartans of Castleton State College in a 7:00 p.m. contest. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by friending us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
