Dec. 29, 2007
BOX SCORE
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - Men's ice hockey extended their mid-season win streak to seven after the Knights blew out Becker College 8-1 on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Saint Michael's College Holiday Classic. Junior Michael Hedden scored four of the Knights' eight goals for his fifth consecutive hat trick of the season, including three in the Knights' five-goal third period to secure the 8-1 win.
Neumann's defense showcased well going 3-3 on the penalty kill while the Knights offense went 2-8 on the power play.
"This was a good game for us after coming off a three week break," stated head Coach Phil Roy. "We got better and better as the game went on and there was no stopping this offense in the third period."
Neumann got on the board eight minutes into the game, as Neil Trimm netted his 12th of the season after teaming up with Matt Ward and Mike Gooch on the power play to put the Knights up 1-0.
Eight and a half minutes later Neumann went up 2-0, as Hedden scored his first goal of the night. Sean Cryer and David Gooch were credited with the assist on the game winner at 16:32.
Jared Kersner got the Hawks on the board scoring Becker's only goal of the game at the 4:10 mark of the second period. Neumann answered with the first of six consecutive goals at 14:41. Ward created a two-goal differential when he buried his third goal of the year on an assist from senior Cryer to end the second period 3-1 in favor of Neumann.
The third period belonged to the Knights as Neumann outshot Becker 20-6 and 50-18 for the game. Neumann unleashed an offensive strike on Becker which consisted of five unanswered goals including 3 from Hedden, 1 from Van Vliet and 1 from Cryer. Erik Stoyanvich, Jeff Nuttall (2), Jesse Cole, Charles Paterson (2), Trimm, Van Vliet and Cryer were all credited with assists on the various third period goals.
Knights' goaltender Mike Collichio deflected 17 shots for his 10th win of the year and team's 11th. Becker's Stoehr pushed aside 37 shots in all while allowing four goals before sophomore Anthony Oliveira finished off the game allowing four goals on nine shots.
Neumann will look to complete a weekend sweep in South Burlington on Sunday when they face off against Concordia (Minn.) in the finale of the Saint Michael's College Holiday Classic at 1:00 p.m.
