When and Where: February 10, 2023 – The Ice Den (Hooksett, N.H.)
Score:  Rivier University 4, Southern New Hampshire University 3
Records: SNHU 8-16-0 (7-11-0 NE10), Rivier 7-14-2 (Independent)

George Thurston (Plymouth, Mass.) scored two goals on his senior night, but SNHU fell 4-3 to Rivier University in a non-conference game on Friday at The Ice Den Arena.


STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Thurston – 2 goals
• Freshman Jim Minnig (Auburn, Pa.) - goal
• Senior Ryan Coady (Braintree, Mass.) – 2 assists
• Senior Matt Monreal (Wauwatosa, Wis.) – 2 assists

KEY MOMENTS
 

• Thurston's first goal, a power-play goal, came at 4:19 of the first period when he collected a tip from Coady behind the Raider net and connected for a 1-0 lead.
• Rivier senior Josh Sanchez tied the score less than a minute later.
• Thurston put SNHU up 2-1 at 1:40 of the second period with Monreal and Coady picking up the assists.
• Rivier scored the next three goals spanning the second and third periods to take a 4-2 lead.
• A late marker from Minnig at 16:59 gave the Penmen an opportunity to tie late with an extra skater.

 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 

• The Penmen outshot the Raiders 40-21, including 16-6 in the third period.
• SNHU went 1-for-3 on the power play and Rivier was 0-for-4.
• Thurston leads the NE10 with ten power-play goals this season.
• Freshman Nathan Loisel (Blainville, Quebec) made his third consecutive start in the net.
• Minnig, who tallied his first points with a pair of assists last Friday, scored his first career goal.    

 
NOTES

• Rivier won both games with the Penmen this season and leads the all-time series 3-1.
• SNHU is in fourth place in the NE10 standings ahead of Franklin Pierce, 23 points to 21, but Franklin Pierce has one game in hand.   If the Penmen can hold onto fourth place (or improve on it), they will host an NE10 playoff game on February 21.
• In addition to the senior day, in which SNHU paid tribute to its seniors (and grad students), the game was also a "Stick It To Stigma" contest designed to raise awareness about mental health.
• The nine players honored before the game were graduate student Adam Mercer (Belchertown, Mass.), senior Andrew Ray (Cumberland, Maine), senior James Nash (Hampton, N.H.), graduate student Dominic DiMambro (Troy, Michigan), graduate student Travis Quigley (North Babylon, N.Y.), senior Tim Usalis (Danvers, Mass.), Monreal, Thurston, and Coady.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Penmen will conclude the regular season at Assumption University next Friday and Saturday in Worcester, Mass. 

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