NASHUA, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team fell to Rivier University on Tuesday night, 4-3, during a non-conference tilt at the Conway Arena. The Hawks dropped to 6-12-2 after suffering their sixth non-conference loss this season while the Raiders improved to a 9-8-2 overall record.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm returns to Northeast-10 Conference action for a two-game series against the Eagles of Post University starting on Friday, January 26. The NE10 clash is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start time in Shelton, Conn.
Score: Saint Anselm 3, Rivier 3
Records: Saint Anselm 6-12-2 | Rivier 9-8-2
Location: Nashua, N.H. (Conway Arena)
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Attendance: 170
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Raiders fired the first two shots early in the game forcing a block by senior Will Christensen (Ridgefield, Conn.) and a save from freshman goalie PJ Benites (Tyngsborough, Mass.) making his collegiate debut for the Hawks. Senior Tommy Schwartz (Ridgefield, Conn.) wristed a shot on frame to produce the first stop of the night for Rivier goalie Will Augustine.
- Both teams continued to exchange shots until the Raiders earned their first power play chance of the game at the 13:38 mark. The Hawks successfully killed the power play after limiting the Raiders to just one shot that was blocked by junior Chase Reynolds (Middletown, Conn.). Saint Anselm then went on a five versus three man advantage following two quick penalties on Rivier. Junior Hunter Brackett (Harwick Port, Mass.) found the back of the net at the 16:25 mark to put the Hawks ahead 1-0.
- Shortly after, Saint Anselm doubled their lead thanks to a score by sophomore Luke Linart (Holland, Mich.) with just under three minutes left in the period. The Raiders however kept pushing their attack and were able to cut the Hawks lead in half following a goal by Liam Hennessy with just 11 seconds remaining before the break.
- Rivier wasted no time getting on the scoreboard after Avery Arnold scored an unassisted goal less than two minutes into the second period to make it a 2-2 game. The Hawks responded by firing the next five consecutive shots, three of which Augustine saved. Neither team capitalized in their attacking zones as crossing the midway point of the period. At the 17:39 mark of the second, Saint Anselm earned their third power play opportunity of the night however Rivier's defense would contain the Hawks to just two shots, both from senior Liam Lyons (Gloucester, Mass.), to keep the score level at 2-2.
- In the third period, the Raiders jumped ahead 3-2 after Tyler Sitnikov rifled the puck into the top netting off a redirected shot to give Rivier their first lead of the game. Junior Max Burum (Marshfield, Mass.) answered for the Hawks during their fourth power play chance by slotting the puck into the top right corner from senior Jac Cordeiro (Barnstable, Mass.) initial centering pass.
- Rivier immediately responded to Burum's tying goal thanks to Hunter Phillips firing the puck into the left netting to take back a 4-3 advantage with 11 minutes left in the period, respectively. Shortly after, the Raiders had the extra skater at the 10:30 mark, but Benites posted two saves along with a block by junior Will van der Veen (Duxbury, Mass.) to kill Rivier's power play. Saint Anselm continued to battle with Cordeiro hitting a quick shot on target in the last seconds of the game, but Rivier would hold on and secure the win by a final score of 4-3.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm and Rivier were even in total shot attempts in the game with 33 apiece with Lyons leading the team with five shots.
- The Hawks were favored from the faceoff dot winning 39-of-71 draws while the Raiders held a 15-11 edge in total blocks.
- All three of Saint Anselm's goals were scored with the extra skater going 3-for-5 in the game. The Hawks defense also killed both of Rivier's power plays holding the Raiders to a combined two shots.
- Bracket tallied a goal and an assist for two points while Burum and Linart also notched a score apiece for the Hawks.
- Benites made his collegiate debut between the pipes for Saint Anselm posting 29 saves tonight, including 11 in the third, and allowed four goals.
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