FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 13, 2023) – A late power play gave the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team a chance to atone for a slow start on Friday night at Martire Family Arena. Chasing a two-goal deficit with the goaltender pulled, Kevin Lombardi (Schwenksville, Pa.) had the finish at the right post to cut the Colgate lead to 3-2.
 
It was as close as the Pios would get in their season opener though. After SHU (0-1-0) pulled the goalie again, Daniel Panetta blocked a shot and Carter Gylander made one final save in the dying seconds, to preserve the one-goal victory for the visiting Raiders.
 
"The big lesson is we must start the game on time, and we did not start it tonight," said head C.J. Marottolo after the game, referencing a first period which saw SHU outshot 19-4. "Colgate was winning puck battles, beating us up the ice, so that is the lesson tonight. I know our guys will respond tomorrow night."
 
For all the dominance of the first period, Colgate (1-1-1) left the frame with only a 1-0 lead. Tommy Bergsland got the night started just 68 seconds in, after Panetta did the hard work of carrying behind the net from left to right and fed the puck to the right point. Bergsland's shot from there found its way through traffic for his first goal of the season.
 
SHU started to find its legs in a high-flying second period which saw the two sides combine for 26 shots, but it was Colgate which struck midway through the period to double the lead. Brendan Dumas (North Attleboro, Mass.) took an ill-advised interference penalty in the offensive end, and then Pierson Brandon got loose in his offensive zone on the ensuing power play. He picked the top-left corner from the left circle for his first of the campaign.
 
The Pios needed only 33 seconds to respond and whip the sellout crowd of 4165 into a frenzy. On the rush on the left wing, Braeden Tuck (Calgary, Alberta) pulled up on the half boards and laid the puck off for the trailer, TJ Walsh (Shrewsbury, Mass.). Walsh stepped into a big one-timer from the top of the circle and buried it inside the right post for his first goal as a Pioneer, at 11:20.
 
Colgate was able to push the lead back out to two goals before the second stanza ended though. Ryan Sullivan wrapped behind the goal to the left and fed a pass out front to Brett Chorske. Chase Clark (Williamsville, N.Y.) turned aside the first shot, for one of his 41 saves on the night, but Chorske cleaned up the rebound at the right post at 15:09.
 
SHU held a 12-10 advantage in shots in the third period and nearly used a late power play to kickstart a comeback. After pulling Clark for the extra attacker to effectively create a two-man advantage, the Pios went tic-tac-goal to get within one. From the right circle, Mark Cheremeta (Parkland, Fla.) sent the puck to Walsh at the top of the left circle. Walsh had a seam to Lombardi at the right post, and set up a tap-in finish for the latter.
 
The Pios got Clark to the bench again for the final 90 seconds, but could only put one further shot on net, which Gylander (1-1-1) turned aside in the final seconds to finish off a 25-save victory. Clark (0-1-0) stopped a career-best 41 of 44 shots in a hard-luck loss.
 
"It was not the result we wanted, but this team didn't quit," added Marottolo. "That third period we were pushing hard and had some great looks to tie it. All positives we can build on… The guys were a little hesitant at the beginning, but certainly had a great push at the end and that is what good teams do. They do not give up and that's what we did tonight."
 
SHU and Colgate wrap up the weekend series at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Martire Family Arena.