Statistics

CANTON, Mass. -- George Vonakis poked in a power play goal with 7:51 remaining to push No.8 Curry College past the University of New England, 2-1, as the teams tied atop the Conference of New England (CNE) men's ice hockey standings battled again on Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Canton Ice House.

The shorthanded Nor'easters had possession in the offensive zone before a errant pass allowed Vonakis to start streaking the other way. After dropping it to the side for Grady Friedman to put one on target, Vonakis found the rebound in the crease from his knees to nudge the Colonels in front.

After killing off their eighth penalty of the contest, the visitors tilted the ice towards Curry goalie Shane Soderwall for the final three minutes -- 9-1 total shots, and 6-0 on goal -- but could not find the equalizer.

The weekend split leaves the Colonels at 9-3-0 overall (6-2-0 CNE) and the Nor'easters at 6-4-1 on the year (5-3-0).

All three goals in the contest were scored with an extra skater, starting with the hosts midway through the 1st period, as Vonakis set up Taurin Haddon-Harris for a one-timer on the left side of the cage.

That margin held until 42 seconds into the 3rd, when Juraj Elias snapped a wrister inside the left post from the high slot for his first tally of the season. Dominic Murphy and Jacob Pellerin registered assists on the play.

Soderwall made 29 saves, while his counterpart from UNE, Stefan Carney, totaled 27 stops. The Nor'easters also amassed 17 blocked shots, of which David Wilcox had a team-high three.

UNE will wrap up the semester next Friday with a non-conference showdown at the University of Southern Maine.