EVERETT, Mass. – Junior Peter Sikalis (Acton, Mass.) netted a pair of goals to help the Saint Anselm College ice hockey team pick up its second straight win with a 4-2 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a non-conference contest played at Allied Veterans Rink.
With the win the Hawks improve to 4-2-0, which the Leopards suffered their fourth straight setback to stand at 3-5-1. The game was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Saint Anselm wasted little time getting on the board, scoring twice in the first 3:33 of the contest. Just 1:00 into the game, junior Brendon Kerrigan (Boston, Mass.) won a face-off from the left circle back to Sikalis, who fired a one-timer that beat freshman Matt Jenkins (Mount Pearl, N.L.). At 3:33 the Hawks doubled their lead when junior CJ Blaszka (Brookfield, Conn.) intercepted a pass just inside of his own blue line and went in on a breakaway.
With 56 seconds left in the period Wentworth cut the deficit in half, scoring a power play goal. Sophomore Chris Sattler (East Longmeadow, Mass.) gained possession of the puck after a face-off and slid a pass to freshman Eric Eustace (Oakville, Ont.). Eustace fed freshman Jonny Spada (Glen Rock, N.J.) in front for the goal. Saint Anselm had a 10-7 shot advantage through 20 minutes.
Saint Anselm scored the only goal of the second period, which came at 3:13 of the period. Senior Tyler Estee (Bow, N.H.) cleared the puck out of his zone to junior Nick Leonard (Methuen, Mass.). Leonard sent a long pass to senior Mark Meads (Middleton, Mass.), who would beat Jenkins to the right side.
At the 2:21 mark of the third period, the Hawks took a 4-1 lead on Sikalis' second of the game as he went in 2-on-1 with senior Bryan Sullivan (Burlington, Mass.). With 4:59 remaining, Wentworth made it a two-goal game on a marker from sophomore Erik Andersson (Madison, N.J.). Freshman Angus Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) played a puck to Sattler, who fired a shot that was saved. Andersson came up with the rebound and beat freshman Colin Soucy (North Andover, Mass.).
For the final 2:08, Jenkins was pulled for an extra attacker, however the Leopards were unable to get any closer while also keeping the Hawks from increasing their lead.
Soucy made 23 saves in his first collegiate appearance while Jenkins stopped 31 shots. Saint Anselm had a 35-25 shot advantage. The two teams combined to go 1-for-12 on the power play.
Wentworth is idle until Saturday, November 28, when the Leopards travel to Southern Maine. Saint Anselm hosts Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday for the Queen City Cup.
