BOX SCORE

HOOKSETT, N.H. - Ryan Mero (Peekskill, NY) totaled two goals and an assist to lead Saint Michael's College to a 4-3 Northeast-10 ice hockey victory over Southern New Hampshire University at The Ice Den Tuesday night.  The Purple Knights, who jumped out to a 4-0 lead and had to withstand a late Penmen rally, are now 9-8-1 overall and the lone unbeaten NE-10 team at 3-0-0.  The hosts fell to 8-9-1 and 2-1-0 in the league.

John Burns (Sandwich, MA) had three assists for the Purple Knights, while Chris Healey (Salem, NH) and Andrick Deppmeyer (Claremont, NH) had Saint Michael's other goals.  Thomas Ohlson (York, ME) led the Penmen with a goal and an assist, while Troy Maybury (South Portland, ME) and Brandon Hammermeister (Calgary, ALB) had SNHU's other goals.

Saint Michael's jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Mero at 3:28 and Deppmeyer at 16:51 of the first period.  Mero scored 6:10 into the second frame to make it 3-0, and Healey notched a power-play tally with 1:52 left before the second intermission to give the guests a 4-0 lead.

Ohlson would get the Penmen on the board at the 18:59 mark of the second when his one-timer beat SMC goalie Tyler Bilton (Penticton, BC) top shelf.  Josh Goodman (Highland, Mills, NY) and Corey Hamblett (Milton, VT) assisted on the goal.

Hammermeister would make it a 4-2 game when he notched his 11th goal of the season at the 8:30 mark on an unassisted tally.  Maybury would halve the Purple Knight lead 2:39 later when he scored on assists from Bob Bryant (Nashua, NH) and Ohlson.  SNHU's best chance to tie the game came with just over two minutes to go when Hammermeister was on a breakaway, but his shot was off the mark.  The Penmen pulled netminder Matt Courchesne (Bow, NH) for the final 17 seconds, but to no avail.

Bilton stopped 31 shots for Saint Michael's as the guests generated a 39-34 shot advantage.  Courchesne made 35 saves for SNHU.

SNHU returns to action Saturday night when it travels to Worcester State College for a 7:30 tilt.