GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team wrapped up its two-game season-opening road trip with a 4-2 loss against the University of Southern Maine in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action at USM Ice Arena on Saturday. The Purple Knights are 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the league, while the Huskies pull even at 2-2 and 1-1.

Saint Michael's junior Connor Mitchell (New Milford, Conn./Kent School) and first-year Sam D'Antuono (Hingham, Mass./Dexter School) both scored, with D'Antuono netting his first collegiate marker. Senior Nick Potter (Stoneham, Mass./The Brooks School) and junior Danny Divis (Media, Pa./Minnesota Wilderness) both had assists. First-year goalie Chris Johnson (Duxbury, Mass./Pomfret School) totaled 21 saves in his first career start.

Senior Zach Dymock had one goal and one assist for Southern Maine, while classmate Todd Bannerman, sophomore Alex Pantalone and first-year Parker Sanderson each tallied one goal. Sophomore Kyle Shapiro made 23 stops for the win.

During a 12-shot first period, Southern Maine potted the game's first goal just 2:44 into play after firing a 25-foot shot following a feed from sophomore Brett Norman. The hosts' lead stretched to 2-0 at 15:52 as Sanderson buried the rebound from Dymock's initial shot. After Johnson kicked away Dymock's shot, Sanderson corralled the loose puck and punched in the score before Johnson could snag the second-chance bid.

In the second period, both sides netted one goal while matching one another in shots, 7-7. Pantalone provided the team's third goal when his low shot from the right circle found its way past Johnson at 11:13. Saint Michael's then broke onto the board at 16:25 as Mitchell netted his first goal of the season. Southern Maine led, 3-1, through two periods.

The teams exchanged goals in the final stanza, with the visitors narrowly leading in shots, 8-6. At 10:16, Southern Maine senior Chad O'Brien had his shot stopped, but Dymock was there to stuff in the back-door shot to give the hosts a 4-1 margin. Saint Michael's countered 1:01 later as D'Antuono fought off defenders and flicked home the puck after a scrum down low to make the game a 4-2 affair. The Purple Knights were unable to get any closer after pulling Johnson for the extra attacker with 3:14 remaining.

Saint Michael's kicks off a five-game homestand during a nine-day stretch beginning next Friday at 7 p.m. against New England College.