FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team saw a comeback attempt come short in its home opener on Saturday evening against Stonehill, falling by a 3-2 final at the Martire Family Arena.
Reid Pabich and
Cole Galata both scored their first goals of the season in the contest, with Pabich's strike marking his 30th point as a Pioneer (14G, 16A).
Felix Trudeau assisted on the Pabich strike, as he has tallied a point in every game of the season. First year goaltender
Teagan Kendrick got the start in his first collegiate game, making 28 saves.
Records:
SHU: 2-1-0
Stonehill: 1-4-0
How It Happened:
After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Skyhawks took control of the action with two goals in a 19-second span. Joseph Grainda netted the first goal off a wrap-around pass from Joel Lehtinen before Brady Hunter cleaned up a saved shot from right outside the crease at 6:15.
The Pios cut the margin in half, with Pabich finding the back of the net at 14:57. The senior took a pass from Trudeau in the slot, where he took a deke and buried a shot from the right dot.
Mikey Adamson had the secondary assist for his second point of the year.
SHU dominated the play in the second period, outshooting Stonehill 16-10 in the frame. The Pios had three power plays in the period but were held out of the net. However, the Skyhawks netted a short-handed goal in the final minute of the frame to take a 3-1 lead into the third.
The Pioneers cut the margin to one by 13:44 in the third with Galata's first strike of the year. After a blocked shot from
Noah Ellis from the blueline, Galata scooped the puck and backhanded a shot into the goal to cut the margin to one, 3-2.
Joshua Barnes made the initial pass for the secondary assist.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, they could not find the equalizer over the final 6:16. SHU put for shots on frame over that stretch, but Connor Androlewicz stopped all of those attempts to seal the win.
Notes:
- Pabich and Galata both scored their first goals of the season.
- Pabich's goal is his 30th as a Pioneer.
- Trudeau has a point in all three games of the season.
- Kendrick made his first collegiate appearance in goal, making 28 saves.
- David Brandes made his collegiate debut on defense.
- SHU is still perfect on the penalty kill, going 2-0 tonight and is 10-0 on the season.
- The Pios outshot the Skyhawks, 41-31.
Up Next:
The Pioneers will next hit the road for two games in Big Ten country, as SHU heads to No. 16/15 Ohio State for games on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25. The opening game on Friday is slated to start at 6:30 p.m., while the second game will kick off at 5 p.m.
