MANCHESTER, N.H. – Forward Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) recorded his first career hat trick as the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team posted a 6-5 victory over the Vikings of Salem State University Tuesday evening at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena.  With the win, the Hawks snap a four-game losing skid to improve their record to 7-7-3 overall, remaining at 3-7-2 within ECAC Men's East play.  Salem State falls to 11-6-2 (8-2-2 MASCAC) and collect their first regulation defeat of 2012.

Richard capped off the hat trick by scoring the game-winning goal at 17:11 of the third period, lifting Saint Anselm to a 6-5 lead with just under three minutes remaining in regulation time.  Entering the offensive zone, forward Tyler Savage (Johns Creek, Ga.) sent a pass across the blue line for a streaking Richard who fired a shot on goal at the top of the slot.  Goaltender Ryan Sutliffe was unable to field the puck cleanly as it bounced right past his late lunge.  Forward Tim King (Weymouth, Mass.) also posted an assist on the goal.

Salem State jumped out to the early 3-0 lead near the midpoint of the first period, as sophomore forward Eric Defelice tallied his fourth and fifth goals of the season to extend the Vikings lead.  A power play goal by senior forward Giancarlo Capodanno at 10:05 forced Hawks starting netminder Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) out of the game.

Saint Anselm was quick to answer, however, as forward Ryan Donovan (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season to place the Hawks on the scoreboard.  Skating around the back of the Salem State cage, forward Johnny Daniels (Andover, Mass.) fed the puck out in front to Donovan who scored five-hole on Sutliffe for his first collegiate goal.

Richard recorded his third goal of the season and his first goal of the evening at 18:59 of the first period to cut into the Vikings lead.  A powerful blast by defenseman Ryan Holley (Bethany Beach, Del.) was fired wide left of the cage.  Skating behind the net, King slowed the puck's movement to allow Richard to crash the left post with the puck.  Finding a gap between Sutliffe's pad and the left post, Richard tucked the puck over the goal line to decrease the deficit to only one goal.

Forward Eric Czapka (Holland, Pa.) scored his third goal of the season at 2:36 of the middle stanza to knot the score at three apiece.  A nifty outlet pass by forward Evan Gogonis (Northboro, Mass.) broke Savage into the zone on a two-on-one break alongside Czapka.  A powerful blast on net by Savage was turned aside by Sutliffe, but the rebound spilled onto the blade of Czapka's stick.  Lifting the backhanded shot past the sprawling goaltender was Czapka to tie the game.

Richard's second goal of the game and fourth of the season was scored at 6:29 of the second period, giving the Hawks their fourth unanswered goal to go ahead by a 4-3 margin.  Following an offensive face-off victory by King, the puck was won back to Holley at the top of the slot.  A powerful blast on net was tipped at the doorstep by Richard, beating Sutliffe for the strike.

Nick Lampson scored his 12th goal of the season at 14:25 of the second period to once again tie the game at four apiece.  Entering the zone on a 3-on-2, the Vikings moved the puck right to left.  Receiving the puck within the right face-off circle, Lampson one-timed the puck by new Hawks goaltender Nick Dries (Commerce Township, Mich.) for the strike.

Only 22 seconds following Lampson's tally, forward Liam McKillop (New York, N.Y.) scored his fourth goal of the season, allowing Saint Anselm to exit the second period of play with a 5-4 lead.  With a strong individual effort breaking into the zone, McKillop skated around a fallen Vikings defender and beat the Salem State goaltender top shelf for the score.

Defelice recorded a hat trick of his own as he tied the score at five apiece at 15:49 of the third period, potting his third goal of the game.  Several failed clearing attempts by the Hawks preceded the score, as the puck was wrapped around the boards and fell onto the stick of Lampson near the right face-off circle.  Quickly whipping the puck toward goal, Defelice scored his sixth of the season by simply tipping the puck past Dries to secure his third goal of the game.

Cumulatively for the Hawks, Richard (3-0=3) and King (0-3=3) had three-point contests.  Savage and Holley (0-2=2) each recorded two point games for Saint Anselm.  Defelice posted a four-point game (3-1=4), having a hand in four of his team's five goals in the game.  Lampson posted a goal and two assists for three points (1-2=3) while Capodanno recorded two points (1-1=2) himself.

Dries (4-5-2) earned the win in the Hawks cage this evening, turning aside 16-of-18 shots on goal that he faced in relief of Kang, who allowed three goals on nine shots.  Sutliffe (9-4-2) drew only his fourth loss of the season, as he halted 38-of-44 shots on net.

Saint Anselm was 2-for-3 on the power play.  Salem State was 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

NOTABLES: With the victory this evening, Saint Anselm issued Salem State their first regulation loss both in the new year and in their prior seven contests…The win also snaps a five-game losing streak to Salem State that dated back to a 3-1 loss on Feb. 17, 2007…Saint Anselm had not posted a victory over the Vikings dating back to a 5-1 victory on Feb. 18, 2006…Forward Mike Richard has five points (3-2=5) in his last two games after recording his first career hat trick tonight…Forward Tim King is riding a six-game point streak, scoring two goals and eight assists (2-8=10) during that span…King has recorded at least one point in nine of his last 10 games after opening the season pointless in six games…Forward Ryan Donovan recorded his first collegiate goal and point tonight.

The men's ice hockey team returns to action on Friday, Feb. 4 as they host No. 1-ranked Norwich University in a 7:00 p.m. tilt on day one of Pink In The Rink weekend.  Proceeds from this weekend's festivities will benefit Susan G. Komen For The Cure®.  For more information, log on to the Saint Anselm College athletics website at http://www.saintanselmhawks.com.

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