MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team opened its season on Saturday, taking down visiting Rivier University by a 4-1 score at Sullivan Arena.

The Hawks move to 1-0 in the season's early action while Rivier, a first-year program competing in NCAA Division III, picks up its first loss in two games – the Raiders opened their season with a 5-4 victory over Southern New Hampshire last evening.

Eight Hawks recorded at least one point on the evening, led by senior Anthony Iacullo (Barrington, Ill.) and his two assists. Four scored goals for Saint Anselm in the team's first win of the year and junior Nick Howard (Burlington, Mass.) earned the win with 24 saves in goal.

Sophomore Will Christensen (Ridgefield, Conn.) got the Hawks on the board just 10:41 into play, tapping home a loose rebound to put Saint Anselm ahead by a 1-0 score. Saint Anselm controlled the first period by firing 16 of the period's 26 shots.

Junior Andrew Andary (Macomb, Mich.) cashed in for Saint Anselm on the power play near the midway point of the second period, upping his team's lead to 2-0. Receiving the puck from down low, Andary's nifty toe-drag preceded a shot into the upper-right corner of the goal past the Rivier netminder.

Colby Audette got Rivier on the board with just over five minutes to go in regulation, breaking away for a highlight-reel goal off a pass from Nick Giamou.

Saint Anselm scored two empty-net goals as Rivier made an effort to tie the game in the final 90 seconds play. Junior Chris Lemay (Salem, N.H.) was assisted by Iacullo before sophomore Thomas Schwartz (Ridgefield, Conn.) tucked home a goal with four seconds remaining in regulation time, the first of his career.

Andrew LoRusso made 33 saves for Rivier in the defeat.