PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SPLITS WEEKEND SERIES WITH 4-2 WIN OVER NEW HAMPSHIRE
Friars score three goals in second period to secure victory

Senior defenseman Steven Shamanski scores goal for Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The third-ranked Providence College men's hockey team scored three goals in the second period to propel them to a 4-2 win over the 20th-ranked University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday night at Schneider Arena. With the win, Providence (10-2-1, 6-2-0 HEA) splits the regular season series with the Wildcats (7-6-1, 5-3-0 HEA).

Trailing at the end of the first period, the Friars added three goals in the second period to lead them to the victory. Senior Seven Shamanski (Carberry, Manitoba) tied the game just 1:40 into the second period. Then red-shirt sophomore Noel Acciari (Johnston, R.I.) and junior Shane Luke (Dauphin, Manitoba) each notched a goal to give the Friars a 3-1 lead after two periods of action. A late push from UNH in the final minutes to even the score ended when junior Ross Mauermann(Janesville, Wis.) scored an empty net goal.

Providence goaltender Jon Gillies(South Portland, Maine) made 32 saves in the win while Casey DeSmith stopped 22 shots for the Wildcats.

New Hampshire was the first to find the back of the net when Nick Sorkin scored while on the power play at 18:12 of the opening period. Tyler Kelleher connected on a pass from the goal line to Sorkin as he was skating through the zone. Sorkin's shot from between the face-off circles beat Gillies to give UNH a 1-0 lead.

In the second period, Shamanski evened the game with his third goal of the season at 1:40. Just as a Friars power play expired, sophomore Kevin Rooney (Canton, Mass.) got the puck to classmate Steven McParland (Schreiber, Ontario). McParland circled, getting the puck to Shamanski at the blue line who then fired a shot through traffic to tie the game.

Providence took the lead at 11:00 in the second when Acciari notched his second goal of the series. The goal came as a result of a strong offensive zone shift for Acciari, sophomore Nick Saracino (St. Louis, Mo.) and sophomore Brooks Behling(Pittsburgh, Pa.). The trio's effort in front of DeSmith eventually led to a loose puck that Acciari was able to put into the back of the net for the Providence lead.

Luke extended the advantage for the Friars at 17:25 in the second, with what would be the eventual game winner. Sophomore John Gilmour (Montreal, Quebec) started the play when he connected a pass to senior Derek Army(North Kingstown, R.I.). DeSmith made the original save on Army's shot but left a rebound that found Luke, who sent the puck into the open net to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Friars.

UNH cut the deficit to one at 4:20 in the third period when Eric Knodel scored the second power play goal for the Wildcats. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Grayson Downing both were part of the play leading up to the shot from Knodel from outside the face-off circle. The Wildcats attempt to tie the game before the end of regulation was ended when Mauermann fired a shot into the empty net to give the Friars a two-goal cushion with 54 seconds left.

Providence's next game is a non-conference match-up against fourth-ranked Quinnipiac on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Puck drop is set for 7:00p.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn., and the game will be televised on SNY.

Notes Jon Gillies has let in two or fewer goals 33 times in 47 career starts ... Nick Saracino has 12 points (7-5-12) against UNH in eight games played ... Saracino has a four-game point streak (2-2-4) ... Ross Mauermann has six points in his last five games (4-2-6) ... Steven McParlandhas six assists in the last six games ...Acciari has tied his previous career high in goals with five.