Statistics

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Behind a four-goal first period, the #9 University of New England men's ice hockey team defeated Salve Regina, 5-2, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at St. George's Rink on Thursday evening.
 
The Nor'easters are unbeaten in their last nine (8-0-1) and improve to 17-5-2 overall, standing second at 15-4-1 and 46 points in league play with just one game remaining. The Seahawks fall to 13-9-1 overall and 11-8-1 in the CCC.
 
Jared Christy got things started for the Nor'easters 6:58 into the night with help from Jake Fuss. Christy and Ryan Kuzmich set up Fuss for a score just over a minute later to extend the lead. Christy put UNE ahead 3-0 with his second of the period, a power play goal, with 9:15 left in the first. Fuss and Kuzmich helped on the marker. Noah Szretter connected with Kuzmich for a goal to make it 4-0 in favor of UNE after a period.
 
The Nor'easters held an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal in the second period but couldn't add another to the board. Salve Regina made a run to start the third as power-play goals by Seth Benson and Mitch Walinski trimmed the deficit in half (4-2) with 15:48 left in the game. The Seahawks would not get any closer, though, and Kuzmich added an empty netter with 47 seconds remaining off a feed from Fuss -- the fourth point of the night for both.
 
Billy Girard IV had 24 saves in the victory, moving his personal ledger to 13-5-2. Salve Regina starter Anthony Tufo made nine save before being relieved by Levi Mitchell in the first period, and Mitchell stopped all 14 shots he faced the rest of the way.
 
UNE closes out the regular season at home on Saturday night against Western New England at 7 p.m.