Box Score
Post-Game Interview

BIDDEFORD, Maine --  Junior Ben Pearl scored twice in the opening 6:14, as the University of New England Nor'easters built a 3-0 lead after one period on their way to a 5-1 victory over SUNY Potsdam in a non-league men's ice hockey game Saturday afternoon (Jan. 3) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

UNE halted its five-game losing skid to improve its record to 4-9-0. The Bears, who defeated Saint Anselm College 6-2 Friday evening, split their road trip and now stand at 5-6-1.

Pearl gave the Nor'easters a lead they would never relinquish 1:24 into the contest, putting home the puck after a shot by junior Tom Gildersleeve had been blocked.

Pearl would double UNE's margin at 6:14 of the period when he stuffed home the puck from close range for his first multi-goal game in a UNE uniform.

Senior captain Zeth Zielinski pushed Big Blue's advantage to 3-0 at 14:10 when he converted from the mid-slot for career goal number 22, tying him with Tyler Fleurent '13 for third on the school's all-time goal-scoring list.

Trailing 3-0 after a period, the Bears got on the scoreboard at 3:28 of the middle frame. Junior Matt Thompson brought the puck thru the slot and score from his backhand in the left circle.

UNE would answer just over three minutes later when junior Sam Vikich rifled home a slap shot from the left circle, one-timing a cross-ice pass.

The Nor'easters completed the scoring at 15:21 of the period as junior transfer Kyle Williams picked up his first goal in a UNE uniform with a slap shot from the top of the right circle.

Gildersleeve finished with three assists for the Nor'easters, who demonstrated efficiency on offense with five goals on 20 shots. Sophomores Trevor Fleurent and Blaise Healy each had a pair of assists while Zielinski and Vikich had two-point afternoons with an assist apiece. Sophomore David Goff helped set-up a goal for the Nor'easters.

UNE senior goaltender Colby Drost turned aside 37 of 38 shots that came his way to earn the victory.

Junior Jon Hall had 15 saves for SUNY Potsdam, which received assists from junior Billy Pascalli and senior Zach Blake on its lone goal.

Both teams return to action next Friday evening (Jan. 9). The Nor'easters host Saint Anselm in an ECAC East game starting at 7 p.m., while the Bears head to Johnson & Wales University for a non-league tilt starting at 7:10 p.m.


Click HERE to watch the post-game interview with Ben Pearl, Zeth Zielinski and Colby Drost