Box Score

BOSTON -- Four different players scored in the final period as the University of New England men's ice hockey team turned a two-goal deficit into a 5-4 victory over Suffolk University at Steriti Rink on Saturday (Jan. 5).

The Nor'easters (3-8-0) trailed 3-1 entering the third frame, but found the back of the net four times in a span of 10 minutes over the initial portion of the period to surge out to a 5-3 cushion.

Sophomore Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.) led the attack with a pair of goals, while first-years Sam Vikich (Vancouver, British Columbia) and Tom Gildersleeve (New Harbor, Maine) each had a goal and an assist. Sophomore Zeth Zielinski (Woonsocket, R.I.) contributed two assists to the offense, and classmate Craig Ryan (Wallingsford, Conn.) recorded 25 stops in goal to earn his second win of the year.

Big Blue started its comeback with 3:55 gone in the closing stanza, as sophomore Fred Hein (North Reading, Mass.) scored in his first action of the season for UNE. Melman then tied things up (3-3) less than four minutes later, before Gildersleeve (11:10) and Vikich (13:42) gave the visitors the go-ahead and eventual game-winning scores.

Suffolk (4-6-2) added a goal by Cameron Mastrangelo late to provide the final margin.

After a scoreless opening period, the home side struck first in the middle session courtesy of Mike Cherpark. The lead held for a little over nine minutes (11:30 mark) until Melman made it 1-1, but Suffolk executed scoring plays for Tim Benedetto (12:11) and Tim Sprague (12:32) in quick succession to build and carry a two-goal margin into the 2nd intermission.

UNE finished with a 37-29 edge in shots, leaving Rams netminder Brett Roman to make 32 saves in a losing effort.

The Nor'easters are back at it on Tuesday with a road contest against the nation's sixth-ranked squad, Bowdoin College. Face-off at Watson Arena is slated for 7 p.m.