Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Zeth Zielinski (Woonsocket, R.I.) scored at 8:59 of the third period to break a 3-all tie and give the University of New England a 4-3 win over St. Anselm College in an ECAC Men's East ice hockey game played Friday (Jan. 11) night at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The victory was the first-ever for the Nor'easters in five meetings with the Hawks. UNE now stands at 4-9-0 (2-6-0 ECACE), while St. Anselm is 7-3-2 (4-3-1).

Zielinksi notched the game-winner when he one-timed a cross-ice pass by sophomore Nick Kolb (Virginia Beach, Va.) from the left side. Classmate Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.) was credited with a secondary assist on the play.

The visiting Hawks were unable to find the equalizer in the closing stages of the contest, despite having numerous shots on goal late and pulling their goaltender with a minute remaining.

St. Anselm jumped out to an 1-0 lead in the opening minute when sophomore Liam McKillop (New York, N.Y.) raced in on the left side and rifled a wrist-shot just inside the far post and under the crossbar.

UNE tied the score less than four minutes later. Sophomore Fred Hein (North Reading, Mass.) chipped a pass ahead to senior Adam Laite (Howie Center, Nova Scotia), who handled the puck around drawn-out Hawk goaltender Nick Dries (Commerce Township, Mich.) and pushed it into the cage.

With two players in the penalty box, St. Anselm pulled ahead on a short-handed goal by sophomore Johnny Daniels (Andover, Mass.). Daniels collected a rebound of his own shot and converted at 11:16 of the first.

Big Blue pulled even once again at 6:39 of the second when first-year Ryan Quinn (Burlington, Mass.) tallied his team-leading seventh goal. Laite and junior Sean Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) set-up the power-play score.

Sophomore Shayne Youngclaus (Methuen, Mass.) then gave the hosts a 3-2 lead with just under five minutes left in the frame, notching his first collegiate goal when first-year Sam Vikich (Vancouver, British Columbia) found him with a pass from behind the cage. Senior Brent Bourgeois was also credited with an assist.

Hawk senior Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) tied the tilt with 3:03 left in the period, scoring his team-leading 10th goal. Senior Evan Gogonis (Northboro, Mass.) and McKillop had assists.

Playing in his first game in a UNE uniform, sophomore goaltender Colby Drost (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) had 34 saves. Drost recently transferred after playing a year-and-a-half for nationally-ranked Niagara University.

Dries made 20 stops for the Hawks, who held a 37-24 advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams return to the ice tomorrow. The Nor'easters host New England College at 4 p.m., while St. Anselm plays a road game at the University of Southern Maine (4 p.m).