Jan. 2, 2004

MILFORD, CT - (January 2, 2004) The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team fell in an exhibition contest with St. Clair College Saints 3-2. Ryan Caicco scored the game-winning goal with 3:12 remaining in the game.

The Pioneers fell behind early in the first period after Ryan Toms put St. Clair up 1-0 just 3:36 into the game, with assists credited to Franco Sabrani and Mark Ridout.

Midway through the opening period Pierre-Luc O'Brien tied the game one a two on one shorthanded rush. O'Brien dragged the puck across the front of the crease and beat Saints goaltender John Foglia between his legs. Garrett Larson and Patrick Sullivan assisted on the goal.

St. Clair regained the lead at 11:08 of the second period when Ridout scored a goal to go along with his earlier assist. Sabrani and Caicco assisted on the goal that gave the Saints a 2-1 lead.

Sacred Heart answered quickly when Kalen Wright tied the game with a power play goal at 14:24 from the far side of the Foglia's net. Takahiro Oshino had the lone assist.

The score remained tied until 16:48 of the final period when Caicco broke the deadlock with the game-winning goal from Sabrani and Toms. Sabrani's assist was his third of the night.

Foglia made 20 saves in recording the win for the Saints while Smith made 21 saves in the loss. Had Smith not a good game the final score could have been much worse, as a majority of St. Clairs shots came from directly in front of his goal crease.

Sacred Heart will be back in action when they host Bentley on Tuesday, January 6th, at the Milford Ice Pavilion. The opening face-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.