BIDDEFORD — The University of New England Nor’easters scored four times in the opening 11:20 and cruised to a 4-1 win over Stonehill College in a mutual men’s ice hockey season-opener Friday evening at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The meeting was the first-ever between the two non-league opponents.
Sophomore Trevor Fleurent got the Nor’easters on the scoreboard just 0:24 into the game when he rifled a wrist-shot from the left circle just inside the near post. Junior Tom Gildersleeve and senior Jared Melman were credited with assists on the play.
UNE would double its lead less than two minutes later as senior Zeth Zielinski converted on a breakaway opportunity. Junior Ben Pearl fed Zielinksi at center-ice after sophomore Christian Cordier got the play started from Big Blue’s defensive end.
The Nor’easters increased their lead to 3-0 midway through the frame while on the power play. Junior Sam Vikich fired a low shot from the point that eluded a crowd in front of the cage. Sophomore Blaise Healy and junior Ryan Quinn assisted on the play.
Big Blue would strike again at 11:57 when Melman roofed a wrister from the left circle for his 30th career goal. He was set-up on the play by his linemates, Gildersleeve and Fleurent.
The two teams would go more than 40 minutes without scoring until junior Kevin Airoldi registered an unassisted short-handed goal at 11:57 of the third to prevent a shutout. After a UNE turnover in its defensive zone, Airoldi went top shelf from the left circle.
Senior goaltender Colby Drost had a total of 29 saves for UNE, 16 of which came in the third period as the Skyhawks turned up the offensive pressure.
Senior Chris Tasiopoulos finished with 32 stops for Stonehill, which plays at the University of Southern Maine tomorrow in a 4 p.m. start.
The Nor’easters are off until next Friday, when they open ECAC East play at home versus Skidmore College.
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