MILTON, Mass. - In an ECAC Northeast conference match-up in men's ice hockey action on Saturday evening at the Max Ulin Rink, Curry College defeated Suffolk University, 5-2. With the win, the Colonels improve to 10-9-2 overall and 3-6-1 in the conference. The Rams fall to 10-9-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the conference.
Suffolk was first to get on the board in the opening period at the 3:40 minute mark. Sophomore Stanton Turner (San Francisco, Calif.) fired a shot that sailed past the glove of the Colonel's senior netminder Derek Mohney (Amherst, N.Y.). Turner was assisted by juniors Shaughn Shields (Anchorage, Ala.) and Connor McCarthy (Hanover, Mass.). Just over three minutes later Turner netted his second of the night on a power play goal. Sophomore Sean Nelson (Brighton, Mich.) was called for a two-minute interference penalty and the Rams took advantage of the man-up situation. Turner received the puck from sophomore Justin Selep (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Suffolk couldn't hang on to their two goal lead as Curry was quick to answer back. Freshman Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) cut the Rams lead to one after he collected the puck in front of junior goaltender Brandon Smolarek (Chesterfield, Mich.) and stuck it in the back of the net. Sophomores Tyler Vankleef (Dundas, Ontario) and Mike Vallescuro (Woodbridge, Ontario) were credited with the assists. The Colonels tied the game with 44 seconds remaining in the period off their own power-play advantage. The Rams senior Andrew Ball (Brick, N.J.) was called for holding the stick and Curry's power-play unit captalized. Junior Brian White (Santa Ana, Calif.) tallied his first off assists by Valadao and Vankleef.
Curry held a slight advantage in shots in the second period at 18-13 but outscored Suffolk 3-0. Two of the three Colonel scores were power-play goals. Sophomore Jake Heisinger (Winnipeg, Manitoba) netted the game-winner 8:54 into the frame. Heisingers' goal was just 44 seconds into Curry's man-up advantage. He was assisted by seniors Jordan Reed (Ajax, Ontario) and Chris Mason (Monrovia, Calif.). Reed got on the board after taking a slap shot just over the blueline. He recieved a pass from senior Braeden Ruud (Vermillion, Alberta) and junior Ryan Gay (Nesconset, N.Y.). The final tally of the night came with only 12 seconds showing on the clock. Vankleef collected a rebound off the pads of Smolarek for his team's fifth on the night.
Solid play between the pipes from Mohney over 40 minutes of play helped secure the 5-2 victory. Smolarek was tough in net for his team in third making all ten shots he faced.
Curry was 3-7 on power plays and while Suffolk went 1-4. The Colonels finished with a game-high 40 shots and the Rams 29.
Curry's Mohney had 27 stops in net. Smolarek made an impressive 35 saves in goal for Suffolk.
Curry and Suffolk will face off again on Monday, February 16 in a 5:00 p.m. start.
