MILTON, Mass. - In an ECAC Northeast conference match-up in men's ice hockey action on Monday evening, Curry College defeated Becker College, 2-0. With the win, the Colonels improve to 14-9-2 overall and 7-6-1 in the conference. The victory also secures the #4 seed for the conference playoffs.  The Hawks fall to 4-20 overall and 1-13 in the conference.

The teams played a scoreless 40 minutes over the first two periods. Curry led the first period in shots 13-9 while Becker held a slight advantage in the second at 13-11.  Both goaltenders played solid between the pipes to hold their opponents scoreless. The Hawks sophomore netminder Tyler Stepke (Mars, Pa.) made 24 saves. The Colonels senior netminder Derek Mohney (Amherst, N.Y.) made 22 stops.

Curry came out strong in the final stanza, outshooting Becker 14-7.  The Colonels netted their first tally of the game less than four minutes into play.  Freshman Ryan Fitzgerald (Cary, N.C.) earned the game-winning goal at the 3:45 minute mark.  Sophomore Sean Nelson (Brighton, Mich.) sent a pass to Fitzgerald who one-timed the puck past the glove of Stepke.  The Hawks had a few good chances to tie the match but another strong period in net by Mohney stopped Becker from getting on the board.  Curry scored an insurance goal with 5:50 showing on the clock to seal the win.  Sophomore Michael Vallescuro (Woosbridge, Ontario) took a slap shot just over the blue-line off assists by sophomore Tyler Vankleef (Dundas, Ontario) and freshman Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario).

Curry was 0-5 on power plays while Becker went 0-3. The Colonels finished with a game-high 38 shots and the Hawks 29.

Curry's Mohney had 29 stops in net for the victory. Stepke made 36 saves in goal for Becker in the loss.

Curry clinched the #4 seed and will host #5 seeded Wentworth in the ECAC Northeast conference quarterfinal on Saturday, February 28.