MILTON, Mass. --- The Curry College men's ice hockey team fell to visiting 10/11 nationally-ranked Salve Regina University, 4-1, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Friday night at the Max Ulin Rink. With the win the Seahawks improve to 13-3-2 on the season and 8-1-2 in the CCC while the loss drops the Colonels to 11-6-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the CCC.

The Seahawks netted the first score of the contest and eventual game-winner at the 11:23 mark in the first period.  Junior Cameron Russo (Billerica, Mass.) sent a pass from behind the cage to senior Pat Thompson (Hellertown, Pa.) who one-timed it passed the glove of freshman netminder Cody Murch (Raleigh, N.C.).  Salve led in shots at 10-7.

The second stanza saw two power-play goals and one short-handed.  Salve extended their lead when they took advantage of a man-up situation after a penalty was called on the Colonels freshman Mike Snow (Medford, Mass.).  The PP goal came off the stick of freshman Paul Boutoussov (Dana Point, Calif.) just 4:36 into the period.  Sophomores Jack Billings (Oak Lawn, Ill.) and Vincenzo Renda (Wesmount, Quebec) were credited with the assists.  Curry answered back at 11:34 on a two man-up PP goal.  Salve's Thompson and junior Nick Cyr (Mount Laurel, N.J.) were both in the box when the Colonels tallied their lone score of the game.  Senior Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) fired one into the back of the net past junior netminder Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.). Valadao earned help from classmate Ryan Fitzgerald (Cary, N.C.) and freshman Kasper Kjellkvist (Vaxjo, Sweden).  Curry had another PP opportunity late in the period but senior Colin Clapton (Canton, Mass.) intercepted a Colonel pass at the blueline and had a breakaway to net.  Clapton shot the puck over the shoulder of Murch for the short-handed unassisted goal.  Shots were in favor of the Seahawks at 21-14.

The final score of game came just 1:15 into the third. Salve capitalized on another PP opportunity for their fourth and final goal on the night.  Freshman John McLean (North Andover, Mass.) took a slap shot that sailed past Murch after receiving a pass from classmate Erik Udahl (East Walpole, Mass.). Solid play between the pipes from Wojtala kept the Colonels scoreless.  The Seahawks held a 16-9 advantage in shots.

Salve outshot Curry, 47-30. The Colonels went 1-9 on the PP while the Seahawks were 2-7.

Murch recorded an impressive 43 saves in net despite the loss.  Wojtala made 29 stops in net for the win.

The two teams will face each other again tomorrow night at Salve Regina for a 8:05 p.m. puck drop.