SMC surrenders three power play goals, falls to 9-14-1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mice/2010-11/files/mtufstm.htm.  
Photos (taken by Mary Ann Graf): http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mice/2010-11/photos/0002/index.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College men's hockey team (9-14-1, 5-12-1 ECAC East) surrendered three power play goals in a 5-3 setback to Tufts University in conference action on Friday at Cairns Arena. 

For Tufts (6-15-1, 5-13-0 NESCAC), freshman Kyle Gallegos (Westminster, Colo.) recorded two goals and an assist, while sophomore Dylan Plimmer (Phoenix, Ariz.) picked up a goal and three assists. Senior Tom Derosa (Charlestown, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist in the victory, while junior Evin Koleini (Clarence, N.Y.) stopped 31 shots to earn the win.
           
For Saint Michael's, goals were scored by seniors Glenn Belmore (Cornwall, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) and Nick Sheehan (Potsdam, N.Y./Cornwall Colts), along with junior Josh Geary (Wellesley, Mass./Phillips Andover Academy). Sophomore Alex Davidson (South Burlington, Vt./Saint Paul's School) handed out a pair of assists, while classmate Mike Dizgun (Kirkland, Quebec/OCN Blizzard) recorded 27 saves.

Tufts led 1-0 through one period of play, as the Jumbos converted on their first power play opportunity 5:16 into the contest. Gallegos first goal of the game 1:59 into the second period increased the visitors' lead to 2-0.

Saint Michael's cut its deficit in half less than five minutes later, as Sheehan deposited a power play goal, his 10th score of the season. Gallegos quickly restored the Jumbos' two-goal lead, connecting on a power play goal of his own, and a Plimmer power play strike with 4:09 left in the second period – which proved to be the game-winning goal – gave Tufts a 4-1 advantage.

The Purple Knights were able to pull to within 4-2 after two periods, as Belmore scored late in the second stanza, and a Geary goal with the man advantage 2:20 into the third period made it a one-goal contest. That was as close as Saint Michael's would get, however, as Derosa's score 6:10 into the final frame pushed the Tufts' edge back up to two goals, and the Purple Knights couldn't draw closer despite skating the final 1:38 with an extra attacker.
           
Saint Michael's returns to action on Saturday, as the Purple Knights play their final game of the regular season, hosting Connecticut College in a 4 p.m. "Senior Day" contest. Tufts is back in action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. game at third-ranked Norwich University.

GAME SUMMARY

                                    1          2          3          Total
Tufts                            1          3          1          5                     
Saint Michael's            0          2          1          2         

SCORING
First Period: 1. TUF, Vitale (Plimmer, Fadden), 5:16 (PP). Penalties – TUF: 1 minor, SMC: 3 minors, 1 major.
Second Period: 2. TUF, Gallegos (Derosa, Plimmer), 1:59. 3. SMC, Sheehan (Evarts, Davidson), 6:43 (PP). 4. TUF, Gallegos (Metcalfe), 8:27 (PP). 5. TUF, Plimmer (Barker), 15:51 (PP). 6. SMC, Belmore (Davidson, Jangro), 17:00. Penalties – TUF: 5 minors, SMC: 8 minors.
Third Period: 7. SMC, Geary (LaBelle-Hamer, Higgins), 2:20 (PP). 8. TUF, Derosa (Gallegos, Plimmer), 6:10. Penalties – TUF: 4 minors, SMC: 3 minors.

Shots on Goal: TUF (13 – 15 – 4 -- 32), SMC (11 – 9 – 14 -- 34)                                                                                      

Saves: TUF, Koleini (60:00), 31 saves; SMC, Dizgun (58:22), 27 saves.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-