HOOKSETT, New Hampshire - Special teams goals were the difference as Southern New Hampshire University won a 4-2 Northeast 10 Conference victory over the American International College ice hockey team on Saturday, November 7.
AIC is now 0-5-0 on the season, and 0-2-0-0-1 in the NE10.
The game's first penalty led to its first goal, but it was the offending team hitting the net; Jory Veenstra scored shorthanded for the Penmen at 16:12 of the first period.
The home side took a 2-0 lead on a Kenny Thurston tally at 3:41 of the second frame. The Penmen then netted another shorthanded goal, winning a faceoff straight forward immediately after a penalty, with Dillon Phillips tallying at 9:34.
However, AIC quickly bounded back, with
Josh Giguere setting up
Tyler Arthurs only 22 seconds later for a one-timer tally, the sophomore's first of the season and the team's first man-up marker of the campaign.
The Penmen went on the power play early in the third and notched their fourth goal of the game, with Aidan Rufa hitting the twine at 3:54.
AIC tried to rally, and was able to hit the net once more;
Max Larkin found
Harrison Flaacke with a pass, and Flaacke in turn fed rookie
Egor Vinokurov for a blast into the cage at 14:23 for his first NCAA goal.
However, the Penmen held from there and secured the 4-2 win.
Matyas Kacbunda took the loss with 10 saves on 13 shots in 29:34;
Jordan Dumont made 16 saves on 17 chances in 30:26 of relief.
AIC will break from NE10 play to faceoff at Framhingham State University on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.
