Box Score VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Joe Collins (Mansfield, Mass.) became the 16th Southern New Hampshire University ice hockey player to eclipse the 100-point plateau as the Penmen cruised to a 6-1 win over SUNY Canton at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday. Southern New Hampshire improves to 10-11-2, while the Roos fall to 7-16-1.
Collins, who stood just two points shy entering Saturday, reached the milestone 10:44 into the second period when he buried his 12th goal of the season. He finished with two goals and an assist, giving him at least one point in 20 games this season and 12 multipoint outings thus far.
Senior Dane Caracino (Belmont, Mass.) put the Penmen ahead just over 12 minutes into the first with a powerplay goal. Collins collected the puck at the bottom of the leftwing faceoff circle and worked it to junior Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.) at the top of the umbrella. Gabrione walked in and fired off a quick wrist shot that was initially denied, but the rebound kicked right to Caracino and he was able to find the back of the net. Caracino's team-leading 13th goal of the year gave Southern New Hampshire a 1-0 lead at the end of one.
In the second, freshman Kevin Lorcher (Rouen, France) pushed the Penmen ahead by a pair with his first collegiate goal. Lorcher pounced on a loose puck in front of the Canton goal and batted a backhand that sent the bouncing puck up and over the Roos' netminder, making it 2-0 in favor of SNHU.
Less than three minutes after his first career goal, Lorcher netted his second to give the hosts a three-goal advantage. Classmate Kyle Valliere (Goffstown, N.H.) carried the puck down the left side of the Canton zone and slid a pass to Lorcher just before he crossed behind the net. Lorcher took the feed at the hash marks and ripped a wrist shot to the top-right corner with 9:48 to play in the second stanza.
Just 32 seconds later, Collins became the first Southern New Hampshire skater in nine seasons to reach 100 points with a powerplay marker. Gabrione started the rush from behind his own goal and found Caracino in the neutral zone. The senior captain carried the puck to the top of the left faceoff circle and lofted a perfect saucer pass over the sticks of two defenders and onto Collins' stick at the back post. Collins one-timed the feed past Louie Puig to achieve the milestone.
The Penmen raced out of the gate in the third and opened up a 5-0 lead 14 seconds into the final frame. Senior TJ Bond (Nashua, N.H.) forced a SUNY Canton defender to turn the puck over deep in the Roos' zone. He then dropped a pass for classmate John Humphrey (Charlestown, Mass.), who deposited his fourth of the year into the back of the net. After Canton trimmed the SNHU lead to four, Collins capped the scoring with his second of the evening to provide the 6-1 final.
Caracino finished with a goal and two assists for the Penmen, while Lorcher added a pair of goals in the victory. Junior David Letarte (Salem, Mass.) upped his record to 4-1 with a 23-save performance.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, as Southern New Hampshire welcomes SUNY Canton to the Ice Den for a 1:30 p.m. faceoff in the season finale for both institutions.
