Box Score
Photos
MILTON, Mass. -- In Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship quarterfinal-round action, the University of New England men's ice hockey team built a four-goal lead on its way to a 4-2 road victory over Curry College on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 25) at Max Ulin Rink.
The win was the 14th of the season for the fifth-seeded Nor'easters (14-9-2), matching the program's highest single-season output established one year ago. It also avenged a pair of regular-season setbacks at the hands of the fourth-seeded Colonels, who conclude their season with a mark 14-10-2.
Chris Harlow scored a first-period short-handed goal for UNE, assisted by
Andrew Slotnick, who had interecepted a Curry pass and fed Harlow for a one-timer. The tally was Harlow's team-leading second short-handed goal of the year.
The Nor'easters extended their lead to 4-0 in the second frame, thanks to goals from
Tucker Ross,
Brady Fleurent and
Ryan Bloom. Ross ripped a shot into the cage just seven seconds into a Nor'easter power play and inside the first minute of play in the period.
Blaise Healy and
Armand Uomoleale assisted.
Brady Fleurent then made it 3-0 at the 6:19 mark, potting a slap shot from the blue line.
Trevor Fleurent and
Dmitris Jones had assists. Bloom capped UNE's scoring at 7:17 when he tipped in the puck after it was touched by
Trevor Fleurent and
Danny Antonoff.
Lionel Mauron scored late in the second period and midway through the final stanza for Curry.
Payton Porter kept his unblemished record intact (4-0-0) with a 29-save performance for the Nor'easters, who went 2-for-3 on the power play to increase their nation-leading success rate to 32.7 percent.
Brett Sinclair had 29 stops between the pipes for the Colonels.
UNE will face second-seeded Nichols College in one semifinal-round game Wednesday at Levy Rink in Harrisville, R.I. (7:10 p.m.). The other semifinal will feature top-seeded Endicott College hosting No. 6 Johnson & Wales University, which upset third-seeded Salve Regina University.
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