Hockey Upsets #6/9 Nationally-Ranked CCC Rival the University of New England, 5-3

Hockey Upsets #6/9 Nationally-Ranked CCC Rival the University of New England, 5-3

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Curry College scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and never trailed in a 5-3 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's ice hockey result against No.6/9 University of New England on Friday night (Feb. 2) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Colonels (15-6-1, 9-5-1 CCC) took advantage of a fortunate bounce to get the first goal. A clearance along the boards caromed unexpectedly out of the corner, off the post, and right in front, and with the goalie attempting to recover from behind the cage, Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) had a wide-open net to finish it.

Zachary White (Milford, Conn.) got on the board four minutes later to make it 2-0, scooping up a loose puck on his defensive blue-line and skating in for a breakaway tally.

That cushion did not last long, however, as Dimitris Jones (Seattle, Wash.) and Brady Fleurent (Biddeford, Maine) answered for the Nor'easters (16-4-2, 9-4-2 CCC) about four minutes later -- just nine seconds apart -- to tie things at 2-all.

At 12:51 of the 2nd, Ryan Fitzgerald (Cary, N.C.) made it 3-2 in favor of Curry, but Liam Neuman (Newmarket, Ontario) intercepted a clearing pass and converted a short-handed goal that brought UNE back even (3-3) with 13:58 on the clock.

The Colonels got another power-play a few minutes later and netted the game's only extra-man goal off the stick of Jordan Williamson (Okotoks, Alberta), sending the visitors into the 3rd with a 4-3 edge.

Just past the midway mark of the final frame, Lionel Mauron (Lausanne, Switzerland) pocketed an insurance score for Curry. UNE played 2:30 down the stretch with an additional skater, but could not get another bid past Cody Murch (Raleigh, N.C.), who totaled 34 saves for the Colonels.

Fitzgerald led Curry with three points, while Valadao and White paired assists with their goals for two points. Shane Tracy (Bow, N.H.) also recorded two helpers.

Ben Churchfield (Newcastle, England) posted 23 stops for the Nor'easters, who will now head to Massachusetts on Saturday (4:50 p.m.) for a rematch with the Colonels. (Game Recap Courtesy of the University of New England Sports Information)