MANCHESTER, N.H. – Hawks defenseman Greg Merrill (Brighton, Mich.) scored two goals, but the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team dropped a 6-3 decision at the hands of No. 1-ranked Norwich University Friday evening at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena.  With the victory, the top-ranked team in Division III men's ice hockey improves to 17-1-1 on the season and to 12-1-0 within ECAC Men's East play.  The Hawks fall below the .500 mark, dropping their eighth game of the season (7-8-3 overall) as well as their eighth conference game of the season (3-8-2).

Forward Blake Forkey scored his second goal of the game en route to a three-goal evening to secure the victory for the Cadets at 8:36 of the first period, placing them ahead by a 4-1 margin at the time.  Posting assists for Norwich on the play were forwards Shane Gorman and Chris Duszynski.  

Following a Duszynski tally only 1:22 into the contest, freshman forward Liam McKillop answered with his fifth goal of the season at 3:27 of the opening stanza.  Forward Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) sent a feed up ice to forward Tim King (Weymouth, Mass.) who broke into the zone alongside McKillop on a two-on-one.  From right to left, King found the blade of McKillop's stick as he flicked the puck into the gaping net for the game-tying goal.

Norwich would go on to score four unanswered goals, as Forkey and forward Gerard McEleney scored within seven seconds of each other at 12:33 and 12:40, respectively.  Forkey's game-winning goal and Gorman's sixth goal of the season at 8:48 of the third period placed Norwich on top by a 5-1 margin just near the midpoint of the third period.

Merrill would score his fifth goal of the season at14:04 of the third period, cutting into the Norwich advantage by a 5-2 margin.  King and forward Johnny Daniels (Andover, Mass.) collected assists on Merrill's first goal of the game.  

Forkey completed the hat trick at 17:35 of the third period, placing the game out of reach for the Hawks.  Collecting his first assist of the game was forward Pier-Olivier Cotnoir, the fourth-ranked scorer within the conference.  To conclude the scoring in the third period, Merrill and Daniels would combine for the Hawks' third goal of the game at 18:57 of the third period to halve the Cadets' advantage.  

Cumulatively for the Cadets, Forkey recorded three goals en route to the Norwich victory.  Gorman posted a four-point evening (1-3=4) while Duszynski chipped in with a goal and two assists alongside a plus-3 rating.  The Hawks had multiple-point games from Merrill (2-0=2), King (0-2=2) and Daniels (0-2=2).

Hawks goaltender Nick Dries (Commerce Township, Mich.) drew the loss, turning aside 20-of-26 shots on goal in the complete game effort.  Cadets netminder Parker Carroll earned his 11th victory of the season, halting 16-of-19 shots on net for the victory.

Both Saint Anselm and Norwich were 2-for-5 on the power play.

NOTABLES:  The Hawks fall to 18-38-0 all-time against Norwich University in program history…Forward Tim King has maintained a seven-game point streak dating back to Southern Maine on Jan. 13, scoring two goals and 10 assists for 12 points (2-10=12) during that span…Forward Mike Richard has recorded three goals and three assists for six points (3-3=6) across his last three games…Forward Liam McKillop has scored a goal in each of his last two games…Defenseman Greg Merrill scored two goals in one game for the third time this season.

The men's ice hockey team returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 5 as they host the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College in a 4:00 p.m. tilt on day two 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.

Defenseman Ryan Holley (Bethany Beach, Del.) will also be honored in a pre-game ceremony as the lone graduating senior from this year's squad.

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