MILTON, Mass. --- The Curry College men's ice hockey team lost to the 11th nationally-ranked Endicott College, 4-2, on Friday night at the Max Ulin Rink in Milton. The loss drops the Colonels to 3-3-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. With the win the Gulls improve to 5-1 on the season and 5-0 against conference opponents.
Endicott was first to get on the board 5:20 into the first period. The Gulls junior Daniel Kucerovy (Bethel Park, Pa.) netted his first of two goals on the night after he took a slap shot just over the blueline that sailed over the shoulder of the Colonels freshman netminder Frank Cundiff (Ocearnside, N.Y.). Kucerovy was assisted by freshman Jake Simons (Coral Springs, Fla.). Endicott extended their lead to two with 6:50 left on the clock off a tally by junior Josh Bowes (Edmonton, Alberta). Sophomore Bump Lisk (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and junior Ross Olsson (Billerica, Mass.) earned the helpers. The Gulls held a 13-6 advantage in shots.
Curry started the second frame on a power-play after a late first period Endicott penalty carried over. Just 33 seconds into the man-up situation the Colonels cut their deficit down to one goal. Mack Heisinger (Winnipeg, Manitoba) received the puck outside the crease and one-timed it into the back of the net. Heisinger was assisted by Senior Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) and junior Lionel Mauron (Lausanne, Switzerland). The Gulls answered back at the 17:23 minute mark on Kucerovy's second tally with another assist by Simons. Endicott led in shots at 15-9.
Endicott netted their final goal on the night 2:09 into the third period. Sophomore Michael Heidkamp (Marietta, Ga.) sent the puck to junior Cam Bleck (Lake Forest, Ill.) who was open in front of the net. Bleck got his stick on it and tipped it in past Cundiff. Curry scored their final tally of the game with only 2:11 left in regulation. The Colonels capitalized on another power-play opportunity after the Gulls were called for their seventh penalty. Senior Jarret Kup (Rosseau, Ontario) fired the puck in past the glove of Endicott's junior netminder Mark Specia (Ringwood, N.J.). Junior Zachary White (Milford, Conn.) and sophomore Alec Mono (Las Vegas, Nev.) were credited with the helpers.
The Gulls outshot the Colonels, 35-18. Curry was 2-5 on the power-play while Endicott went 0-3.
Cundiff recorded an impressive 31 saves in net in the loss. Endicott's Specia made 16 stops for the win.
The teams will face off again tomorrow night at Endicott in a 4:00 p.m. game start.