MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshman Patrick Horrocks (Briantree, Mass.) and junior CJ Blaszka (Brookfield, Conn.) each rung up a goal and sophomore Shane Joyce (Pembroke, Mass.) recorded a game-high 27 saves but a breakaway goal with less than a minute remaining in overtime stole a victory away from the Saint Anselm College men's hockey team Tuesday night at Sullivan Arena, falling to Salem State in a non-conference matchup, 3-2.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Horrocks tallied his first career goal and point, opening the score in the first period off assists from sophomore Justin Longo (Wakefield, Mass.) and senior Bryan Sullivan (Burlington, Mass.)—their first and second respective assists of the season.
• Blaszka added his second goal of the season in the third period, assisted by junior Peter Sikalis (Acton, Mass.) and Sullivan.
• Joyce took his first ding in the loss column Tuesday, despite a game- and season-high 27 saves.
For the Vikings…
• Chris Mastropietro, Ryan Wilkinson and Casey Miller all scored their first goals of the year for Salem State.
• Goaltender Jason Pucciarelli improved to 2-0 this season while picking up 26 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Horrocks' first career goal came deep in the slot on a 5-on-3 advantage, as he attempted to play a cross to senior Mark Meads (Middleton, Mass.), but caught a deflection on the left post and the puck trickled past Pucciarelli to put the Hawks up 1-0.
• After neither team could solve the goalie riddle in the second period, Mastropietro finally beat Joyce at the 5:08 mark to tie the game at 1-1.
• Strong the Hawks have been on the power play so far this year, and Blaszka took advantage of a deep crack by Sikalis, just catching a rocket as it sailed past Pucciarelli glove side to put the Hawks up 2-1 just three minutes later.
• On a rather controversial play, Salem State's Bucci collected a turnover near the Hawks' blue line and raced up the left side, trailed by Wilkinson and with Saint Anselm's Lawrence Taylor on his hip. The trio barreled into the crease, sliding through Joyce in goal and knocking the goal off its borings. When the spray of ice and bodies cleared, Wilkinson was awarded the goal and Taylor awarded a trip to the penalty box post-score, tying the game at 2-2.
• Both goalies made some fantastic saves through the rest of the third stanza, preserving the locked score through regulation. And it appeared it was about to end that way until McAvoy collected a loose puck near center ice on the left boards, surged into the offensive zone and made a nifty move to beat Joyce left post with just 40 seconds remaining on the clock.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• Salem State outshot the Hawks 30-28, but Saint Anselm put 17 shots on target in the third period and overtime to the Vikings' 13.
• For the third straight game this season, Saint Anselm's stout penalty kill held an opponent scoreless as Salem State went 0-for-6. Both of the Hawks' goals came on seven man-up opportunities.
NOTES
• Salem State improves to 42-18 all-time against Saint Anselm, dating back to when the two teams shared a crossover conference schedule for several decades.
• With Saturday's victory over Skidmore College, head coach Ed Seney picked up his 350th career victory. He has earned 181 of those wins on the Hilltop.
UP NEXT
• After three straight home games to start the season, Saint Anselm will finish up the week with a pair of important league battles on the road. Friday, the Hawks will take on preseason conference favorite Norwich University, then travel to Saint Michael's College for a dual-league matchup against the Purple Knights Saturday afternoon.
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