MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University ice hockey team dropped its season opener to Stonehill College by a score of 7-3 Saturday night in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Penmen are now 0-1 overall and in the conference, while the Skyhawks improve to 1-0.

The Penmen jumped out to an early lead in the first period when Joe Collins (Mansfield, Mass.) and Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored back-to-back goals. Collins was able to gather a rebound from a Devin Murray (Saugus, Mass.) saved shot and put it away for the first score of the game and to give SNHU a 1-0 advantage. Gabrione had a little help from Steven Berry (Ashburn, Va.) and Jay Sylvia (Acushnet, Mass.) in order to build the lead to 2-0 and to score his first goal of the season for the Penmen. However, Stonehill's Dan Graham answered with a goal at the 10:28 mark to cut the lead to one heading into the second period.

The Skyhawks dominated the second period scoring two more goals, including the equalizer and the go-ahead tally to take a 3-2 lead. Nate Soter scored just two minutes into the second frame from Kevin Aufiero to erase the SNHU lead and tie the game at two goals apiece, and Connor Fallon scored unassisted to give Stonehill its first lead of the game late in the period with just 2:38 left.

The teams traded goals to start the final period. Bryan Rooney scored a power play goal 1:40 into the frame to take a 4-2 lead over SNHU, but Dane Caracino (Belmont, Mass.) answered four minutes later with his own goal from Collins to cut the Stonehill lead to one. However, the Skyhawks scored two more goals to retake a three-goal lead, and Rooney scored his third score of the game, and second power play goal with eight seconds left to take the 7-3 win.

Tyler Holske (Attleboro, Mass.) totaled 35 saves in the loss, while Joshua Hickey earned the win in net for Stonehill saving 20 shots.

The Penmen return to action Wednesday, November 6 when they travel to Framingham State College for a non-conference 7:00 p.m. game.

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