Box Score

HOOKSETT, N.H. -- Sophomore Craig Ryan (Wallingford, Conn.) made 27 saves and the University of New England men's ice hockey squad never trailed in a 3-1 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in the opening round of the PAL Cup on Saturday (Nov. 24).

The Nor'easters (2-5) -- defending champions of the event -- earn a rematch of last year's title game with the University of Massachusetts Boston (a 7-4 winner over Johnson & Wales University). The teams played to a 3-3 tie through overtime in 2011, before Big Blue took a 2-0 decision in the shootout.

Senior Adam Laite (Howie Center, Nova Scotia) opened the scoring 7:25 in, off a feed from first-year Ryan Quinn (Burlington, Mass.), but the Penmen's Nick Riccio evened things midway through the period. UNE held a 12-7 edge in shots during the 20 minutes, though the score remained 1-1 at the 1st intermission.

Big Blue controlled more of the action in the 2nd -- to the tune of a 17-9 advantage in shots -- and was the only side to find the back of the net in the frame. Quinn from first-year Sam Vikich (Vancouver, British Columbia) and senior Brent Bourgeois (New Haven, Vt.) with 4:10 gone proved to be the deciding marker, before sophomore Nick Kolb (Virginia Beach, Va.) converted a pass from classmate Zeth Zielinski (Woonsocket, R.I.) a little over four minutes later to establish a 3-1 cushion.

The 3rd period went without any scoring.

Tyler Holske made 35 stops for Southern New Hampshire, which faces Johnson & Wales on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The championship match between UNE and UMass Boston will begin at 4 p.m.