MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Johnny Daniels (Andover, Mass.) netted a pair of second-period goals and senior goaltender Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal to lead the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Salem State University on Tuesday evening at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena in non-conference hockey action.
The Hawks bump to 6-8-4 on the season, while the Vikings dip to 9-7-1.
The teams played to a scoreless tie after one period of play, with Kang making a big save at the 10:17 mark to take away a Salem State goal. Skating 2-on-1, Brandon Platt received a quick pass across the slot and snapped off a shot from the inside of the right circle that Kang slid to his left to deny.
That save would prove big as Daniels put the Hawks on the board just 5:22 into the middle stanza when he teed up a one-timer from the left circle and sent the puck over the left glove hand of Salem State goalkeeper Ryan Sutliffe after a pass from the near end line by senior Eric Czapka (Holland, Pa.). Junior Sean Jenkins (Boston, Mass.) also earned an assist on the play.
Saint Anselm doubled its lead 1:12 later when sophomore Mark Meads (Middleton, Mass.) cleaned up a loose rebound in front. Sophomore Tyler Estee (Bow, N.H.) backhanded the puck off the right boards to junior Joey Agliato (Hauppage, N.Y.), who drove the puck on net. Sutliffe looked like he was going to cover the puck, but it came free and Meads charged hard to poke it into the goalmouth.
Daniels potted his second of the period with 5:37 remaining after Jenkins delivered a great feed off the boards from his own defensive zone to set up the play. Daniels collected the puck at his offensive blue line and skated in alone on the left side of the slot before cutting across and slipping a backhand past Sutliffe at the right post to make it 3-0.
Each team would add one more to their respective tallies in the final period, bringing the game to its final score of 4-1. Freshman Brendon Kerrigan (Boston, Mass.) found the net at 6:49 on a Saint Anselm power play the Hawks were credited after Chris Mastropietro was whistled for a five-minute major. Senior Joe Tebano (Glastonbury, Conn.) raced up ice on the left before passing the puck over to Agliato, who took an initial shot on net that was saved by Sutliffe, but Kerrigan picked up the rebound and popped it over a diving Salem State goaltender and defender.
It was finally time for Salem State to join in on the scoring when Keaton Cashin ripped a shot from the top of the left circle that traveled through traffic and past Kang's left side, putting the Vikings on the board.
Sutliffe made 25 saves and Joe Cerulo provided five stops in relief. The Hawks held a 34-24 edge in shots, including 14-4 in the middle frame.
The Hawks return to action Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Saint Michael's College at Sullivan. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
