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SEASON COMPLETE
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Friday, April 6, 2007
Three USM Players Named to NEHWA All-Star Team
GORHAM, Maine -- Three members of the University of Southern Maine men's
ice hockey team have been named to the New England Hockey Writers Association
ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) East/NESCAC (New England Small
College Athletic Conference) All-Star team for the 2006-07 season.
Named to the 13-member team from Southern Maine were senior forward Mark
Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI), junior defenseman Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia), and senior goaltender David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.).
The members of this year's team and the Coach of the Year will be honored
at the annual NEHWA Banquet April 11th at the Prince Restaurant on Route 1 in
Saugus, Mass. For additional information, contact John Gruppo (Northeastern
University Ticket Office) at 617-373-7409.
Carragher, Marshall and Beckles are the first USM players to be honored by
the NEHWA since Jon Lounsbury was named to the team for the 2004-05 season.
This is the first time that USM has had more than one player named to the team.
Other past recipients of NEHWA honors include Brian Collum (1999-2000), Ed Pike
(1996-97), David Flacco (1993-94), Dan Smith (1992-93) and Chris Buck (1989-90).
Beckles, who led the ECAC East in minutes played, is the first USM player
to win an ECAC East major award, being named Goaltender of the Year. The 6-
foot-2 goalie compiled a 2.68 goals against average with a .906 save percentage,
a 13-8-2 record, and posted two shutouts in 23 games. He was named the ECAC
East Goalie of the Week on four occasions during the season. Beckles was also a
semi-finalist for the Concannon Award which is presented by the Gridiron Club of
Greater Boston to the top American-born Division II-III player in New England.
In his three seasons at USM, Beckles finished with a 2.73 goals against
average, a .906 save percentage and a 27-21-4 record.
Carragher, the team's captain this season, led the ECAC East in scoring
this season with 37 points (18g, 19a) in 19 league games. The 5-foot-8 center
racked up a school record 47 points (22g, 25a) in 26 games, and became the
program's all-time leading scorer in January. He set or tied seven school
single-season or career records during the campaign. Carragher led the Huskies
in goals, assists and power-play goals (12), and was one of the top penalty
killers in the league.
In his four seasons with the Huskies, Carragher scored 63 goals and
recorded 67 assists for 130 points in 104 games.
Marshall turned in another outstanding all-around season for the Huskies.
The 5-foot-9 rearguard had 18 points (3g, 15a), quarterbacked the Huskies' power
play, and was one of the league's top defenders.
Southern Maine finished the 2006-07 season 15-9-2 overall and 12-5-2 in
league play (tied for third place).
2007 New England Hockey Writers ECAC East/NESCAC All-Star Team
Forwards
Brad Baldelli, Sophomore, Babson
Will Bennett, Senior, Wesleyan
Mark Carragher, Senior, Southern Maine
Mickey Gilchrist, Junior, Middlebury
Rick Cleaver, Junior, Norwich
Greg Osborne, Senior, Colby
Defensemen
Arthur Fritch, Junior, Colby
John Halverson, Senior, Trinity
Tom Maldonado, Junior, Middlebury
Dane Marshall, Junior, Southern Maine
Travis Martell, Junior, Castleton State
Goaltenders
David Beckles, Senior, Southern Maine
Mike Palladino, Sophomore, Wesleyan
MVP: Rick Cleaver, Junior, Forward, Norwich
Coach of the Year: Jamie Rice, Babson
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Friday, March 2, 2007
David Beckles Named ECAC Men's East Goaltender of the Year
Beckles, Carragher & Marshall Named to All-Star First Team
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior goaltender David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) of the
University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team has been named the ECAC
(Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men's East Goaltender of the Year
following voting by the league's head coaches. ECAC Interim Commissioner
Stephen Bamford announced the league's awards and all-star teams Friday.
In addition, Beckles, senior center Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) and
junior defenseman Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) were named to the All-
ECAC Men's East First Team, and senior wing Chris Sparkes (St. John's,
Newfoundland) was among the six players to receive honorable mention honors.
This is the second straight year that Beckles, Carragher and Marshall have
received All-ECAC recognition. Carragher and Marshall were named to the All-
ECAC Men's East second team while Beckles received honorable mention recognition
last season. Marshall also was named to the All-Rookie team in 2004-05. This
is Sparkes' first all-league accolade.
Beckles, who led the league in minutes played, is the first USM player to
win an ECAC Men's East major award. The 6-foot-2 goalie compiled a 2.68 goals
against average with a .906 save percentage, a 13-8-2 record, and posted two
shutouts in 23 games. He was named the ECAC Men's East Goalie of the Week on
four occasions during the season.
In his three seasons at USM, Beckles finished with a 2.73 goals against
average, a .906 save percentage and a 27-21-4 record.
"David was very consistent throughout the season and it's nice to see him
rewarded for that consistency. We won't have been where we were this season
without him," commented veteran head coach Jeff Beaney about his senior
netminder who also is a semifinalist for the Concannon Award, which is presented
by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston to the top American-born Division II-III
player in New England.
Carragher, the team captain this season, led the league in scoring this
season with 37 points (18g, 19a) in 19 league games. The 5-foot-8 center racked
up a school record 47 points (22g, 25a) in 26 games, and became the program's
all-time leading scorer in January. He set or tied seven school single-season
or career records during the campaign. Carragher led the Huskies in goals,
assists and power-play goals (12), and was one of the top penalty killers in the
league.
"(Carragher) was the best offensive player in the league this season. He
led the league in many offensive categories, but it was his overall game and
consistency that was most impressive. He was very good in the defensive zone,
and he's one of the top penalty killers in the league,"
In his four seasons with the Huskies, Carragher scored 63 goals and
recorded 67 assists for 130 points in 104 games.
Marshall turned in another outstanding all-around season for the Huskies.
The 5-foot-9 rearguard had 18 points (3g, 15a), quarterbacked the Huskies' power
play, and was one of the league's top defenders.
"It's nice to see the coaches recognize (Marshall). He's one of the best
all-around defenseman in the league," added Beaney.
Sparkes, who had the best season of his career, tied with Rick Cleaver of
Norwich University for second place in league scoring, collecting 27 points
(12g, 15a) in 19 games. The 6-foot-5 wing finished the season with 39 points
(18g, 21a) overall, and led the team with four game-winning goals.
"(Sparkes) was very consistent for us this season, and he scored some
really big goals," said Beaney.
"We had a very good senior class (eight) this year. We look forward to
having (Marshall) back next season, but these other three (Beckles, Carragher,
Sparkes), and the senior class as a whole, have set the bar very high for us in
the future," summarized Beaney.
Southern Maine finished the season 15-9-2 overall and 12-5-2 in league play
(tied for third place).
2006-07 ECAC Men's East All-Conference Teams
First Team All-ECAC
Forward Mark Carragher Southern Maine Senior
Forward Rick Cleaver Norwich Junior
Forward Nikta Kashirsky Norwich Sophomore
Defense Brett Smith Saint Anselm Senior
Defense Dane Marshall Southern Maine Junior
Goaltender David Beckles Southern Maine Senior
Second Team All-ECAC East
Forward Brad Baldelli Babson Sophomore
Forward Brandon Heck Castleton Sophomore
Forward Michael Mullen New England Junior
Defense Travis Martell Castleton Junior
Defense Alex DiPietro Babson Sophomore
Goaltender D.J. Delbuono Skidmore Freshman
Honorable Mention
Forward Chris Sparkes Southern Maine Senior
Forward Rob Hutchison Skidmore Senior
Forward Mark Ehl New England Freshman
Defense Phil Sbrocchi Norwich Junior
Defense Phil McDavitt Skidmore Sophomore
Goaltender David Thompson Norwich Freshman
East All-Rookie Team
Forward Mark Ehl New England Freshman
Forward Matt Czerkowicz Skidmore Freshman
Forward Steve Culbertson Castleton Freshman
Defense Casey Fazekas Babson Freshman
Defense Trevor Turner New England Freshman
Goaltender D.J. Delbuono Skidmore Freshman
ECAC Men's East Player Of The Year
Rick Cleaver, Junior, Forward, Norwich
ECAC Men's East Goaltender Of The Year
David Beckles, Senior, Southern Maine
ECAC Men's East Rookie Of The Year
D.J. Delbuono, Freshman, Goaltender, Skidmore
ECAC Men's East Coach of The Year
Neil Sinclair, Skidmore
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Saturday, February 24, 2007
Castleton State Downs Southern Maine in OT, 3-2
GORHAM, Maine -- Freshman Kirk Bolduc (Lewiston, Maine) knocked home a
rebound 14 seconds in overtime to give the fifth-seeded Castleton State College
Spartans a 3-2 victory over the fourth-seeded University of Southern Maine
Huskies in a quarterfinal round game of the ECAC East tournament Saturday night
at the USM Ice Arena.
The win moves the Spartans, now 17-5-4, into next weekend's semifinals
against second-seeded New England College. NEC advanced with its 4-3 win over
Salem State College. The other semifinal match-up will pit top-seeded Norwich
University against sixth-seeded Babson College. The semifinals and championship
game will be hosted by Norwich. Southern Maine ends its season 15-9-2.
After gaining a faceoff in the USM end in the opening seconds of overtime,
Sophomore Brandon Heck (Forestburg, Alberta) won the draw back to sophomore
defenseman Jared Lavender (Cleveland Heights, Ohio). Lavender's shot from the
right point was stopped by USM senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.),
but he was unable to control the rebound, and Bolduc popped the puck into the
net for the game winner.
After a scoreless first period, the Spartans grabbed a 2-0 lead in the
middle period. Senior defenseman Joe Huchko (Congers, N.Y.) got the first goal,
unassisted, at 10:42 when he stopped a USM clearing attempt and beat Beckles
from the blue line through a screen. Sophomore Craig Richardson (Muskegon,
Mich.) made it 2-0 at 18:59 when he slapped home a rebound from the left wing
boards. Rookies Eric Curtis (Rockford, Mich.) and Steve Smiddy (Grand Rapids,
Mich.) picked up the assists.
Southern Maine rallied in the third period to tie the game and force
overtime. Senior defenseman Chris Helms (Sandwich, Mass.) scored the first goal
one second after a Spartan penalty had expired at 7:57, set up by junior Mike
Stevens (Dover, N.H.) and freshman Tom Galiani (Lindenhurst, N.Y.). Sophomore
defenseman Ben Loss (Wilmette, Illinois) got the equalizer at 10:47 on another
power play, assisted by junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) and senior
Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland).
Castleton State sophomore goalie Jeff Swanson (Grand Haven, Mich.) picked
up the win by making 33 saves. Beckles finished the game with 22 stops.
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 OT Final
Castleton State (17-5-4) 0 2 0 1 3
Southern Maine (15-9-2) 0 0 2 0 2
1st Period: no scoring.
2nd Period: 1. CS, Joe Huchko (unassisted) 10:42; 2. CS, Craig Richardson
(Eric Curtis, Steve Smiddy) 18:59.
3rd Period: 3. SM, Chris Helms (Mike Stevens, Tom Galiani) 7:57; 4. SM, Ben
Loss (Dane Marshall, Chris Sparkes) 10:47 (pp).
Overtime: 5. CS, Kirk Bolduc (Jared Lavender, Brandon Heck) 0:14.
Goalies: CS, Jeff Swanson (35 shots, 33 saves) SM, David Beckles (23-20)
Power-Play Opportunities: CS, 0 for 2 SM, 1 for 7
Shots On Goal: CS, 8-8-4-3 = 23 SM, 9-14-12-0 = 35
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Saturday, February 17, 2007
New England College Downs Southern Maine 7-3
GORHAM, Maine -- The New England College Pilgrims received goals from
seven different players and solid goaltending from freshman Ron Baia (Milford,
Conn.) to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 7-3 in an ECAC East
game Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.
The win vaults the Pilgrims into second place in the final regular season
standings, and improves their record to 15-9-1 overall and 13-5-1 in the league.
The Pilgrims have now won five straight games, outscoring their opponents 34-12
during that stretch.
With the loss, Southern Maine falls into a three-way tie with Castleton
State College and Skidmore College for third place. USM, now 15-8-2 overall and
12-5-2 in the league, will be the fourth seed in the upcoming championship
tournament based upon tiebreakers.
Leading 3-2 heading into the final period, the Pilgrims exploded for four
goals in the first 14 minutes to put the game away. Junior Brian Pouliot
(Hooksett, N.H.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 3:02 to
increase the margin to 4-2. Junior Anders Lusth (Sandviken, Sweden) tallied a
power-play goal at 6:50, and freshman Jeff Armando (Canton, Mass.) potted an
unassisted goal at 8:12. Junior Mickey Serra (Coral Springs, Fla.) finished off
the explosion with a power-play tally at 13:37.
New England College had the only two goals of the first period to take a
2-0 lead. Junior Mike Mullen (Pittsburgh, Penn.) put the Pilgrims on the board
at 9:02 of an assist from freshman Mark Ehl (North Vancouver, B.C.). Ehl found
the net at 18:13 to make it 2-0.
Southern Maine tried to get back in the game in the second period. Senior
Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) scored his team-high 22nd goal of the season
on a power-play 24 seconds into the period. Senior Paul Ruta (Pickering,
Ontario) got that back for the Pilgrims 27 second later to restore the two-goal
advantage. Senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) scored a power-play
goal at 7:59 to pull the Huskies within one, but that is as close as they would
get.
Baia finished the game stopping 25 of 28 shots to pick up his 11th win of
the season. USM senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) was credited with
23 saves.
Tournament pairings for the upcoming championship will be announced Sunday.
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
New England College (15-9-1; 13-5-1) 2 1 4 7
Southern Maine (15-8-2; 12-5-2) 0 2 1 3
1st Period: 1. NE, Mike Mullen (Mark Ehl) 9:02; 2. NE, Ehl (Andrew Riddell,
Mullen) 18:13.
2nd Period: 3. SM, Mark Carragher (Bobby Siers, Chris Helms) 0:24 (pp); 4. NE,
Paul Ruta (Brian Shea) 0:51; 5. SM, Chris Sparkes (Chris Helms, Carragher) 7:59
(pp).
3rd Period: 6. NE, Brian Pouliot (Ehl) 3:02; 7. NE, Anders Lusth (Alex Muse,
Mickey Serra) 6:50 (pp); 8. NE, Jeff Armando (unassisted) 8:12; 9. NE, Serra
(Matt Gosselin, Muse) 13:37 (pp); 10. SM, Tom Galiani (Chris Travis, Brett
Yancey) 19:37.
Goalies: NE, Ron Baia (28 shots, 25 saves) SM, David Beckles (30-23)
Power-Play Opportunities: NE, 2 for 8 SM, 2 for 5
Shots On Goal: NE, 11-9-10 = 30 SM, 8-12-8 = 28
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Friday, February 16, 2007
Southern Maine Defeats Saint Anselm 2-1
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior defenseman Chris Helms (Sandwich, Mass.) snapped
a 1-1 tie with 3:20 remaining in regulation to give the University of Southern
Maine Huskies a hard-fought, 2-1 victory over the visiting Saint Anselm College
Hawks Friday night in an ECAC East game at the USM Ice Arena.
The win keeps Southern Maine in a first place tie with Norwich University,
which defeated Bowdoin College 7-4 Friday night, heading into the final day of
the regular season. The Huskies, unbeaten in their last three games, head into
their final game 15-7-2 overall and 12-4-2 in the league. Saint Anselm dropped
its second straight to slide to 10-10-3 overall and 8-7-3 in the league.
Helms netted the game winner by jamming home a loose puck from a scramble
in front of Saint Anselm freshman goaltender Jason Zuck (Clifton, N.J.). Senior
forwards Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) and Chris Sparkes (St. John's,
Newfoundland) picked up the assists after some hard work behind the goal to pry
the puck loose from the Hawks' defense.
The Hawks turned up the pressure over the final three minutes looking for
the tying goal, pulling Zuck with 45 seconds to play in favor of the extra
attacker. USM senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) was able to
preserve the lead, making three saves in the final 25 seconds.
Southern Maine scored the lone goal of the opening period as freshman Tom
Galiani (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) converted a centering pass from senior Marc
Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.) at 18:46. Beckles also received credit for an
assist.
Saint Anselm picked up the equalizer at 2:18 of the second period as senior
Mike Curtis (Hanover, Mass.) got the puck barely across the line during a mad
scramble in the Southern Maine crease. Sophomore Mike Nunziato (Guilford,
Conn.) had the lone assist.
Beckles finished the game with 21 saves. Zuck had 28 stops for the Hawks.
Southern Maine will host New England College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). The
Pilgrims trail USM and Norwich by one point in the standings. Saint Anselm
travels to Salem State College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Saint Anselm (10-10-3; 8-7-3) 0 1 0 1
Southern Maine (15-7-2; 12-4-2) 1 0 1 2
1st Period: 1. SM, Tom Galiani (Marc Santuccio, David Beckles) 18:46.
2nd Period: 2. St. A, Mike Curtis (Mike Nunziato) 2:18.
3rd Period: 3. SM, Chris Helms (Mark Carragher, Chris Sparkes) 16:40.
Goalies: St. A, Jason Zuck (58:58, 30 shots, 28 saves) SM, David Beckles
(60:00, 22-21)
Power-Play Opportunities: St. A, 0 for 7 SM, 0 for 5
Shots On Goal: St. A, 6-10-6 = 22 SM, 13-4-13 = 30
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Saturday, February 10, 2007
Southern Maine Doubles Up on Tufts, 8-4
MALDEN, Mass. -- Seniors Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) and Chris
Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) each had two goals and three assists to lead
the University of Southern Maine Huskies to an 8-4 victory over the Tufts
University Jumbos in an ECAC East-NESCAC interleague game Saturday at the Valley
Forum II in Malden, Mass.
The win improves the Huskies record to 14-7-2 overall and 11-4-2 in league
play. The Huskies head into the final weekend of the regular season tied with
Norwich University for first place in the ECAC East standings. Tufts drops to
6-16-0 overall and 3-14-0 in league games.
With his five-point game, Carragher established a new single-season scoring
mark. The 5-foot-8 pivot now has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points,
surpassing the previous mark of 40 points (29g, 11a) set by Richard McSorley
during the 1992-93 season. Carragher also became the third player in USM men's
hockey history to reach the 20-goal plateau in a season. He joins McSorley, who
achieved the milestone on two occasions, and Raynald Charest as the only players
to score 20 or more goals in a season.
Tufts took a 1-0 lead when junior Ross Gimbel (Ann Arbor, Mich.) found the
back of the net at 1:13 off an assist from junior Greg O'Connell (Cohasset,
Mass.).
The lead lasted just over two minutes as Sparkes got the equalizer, set up
by Carragher and senior linemate Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois), at 3:33.
Carragher tallied the first of his two power-play goals at 13:21 to set the
season scoring mark and give USM the lead.
The Jumbos tied the score at 2-2 before the end of the period on a goal by
Joe Milo (Woodbury, N.Y.).
Southern Maine potted the only goals of the second period to take a 4-2
lead. Senior Marc Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.) put the Huskies ahead for good
with his second goal of the season at 7:37. Rookie defenseman Jordan Skinner
(London, Ontario) added his third goal at 13:07.
In a wild, high-scoring third period (six goals), Carragher scored his
second goal to make it 5-2 at 4:17. Gimbel tallied his second goal of the game
at 6:45, but Sparkes got that one back 30 seconds later with his 17th goal of
the season to make it 6-3.
Gimbel finished off his hat trick at 9:33, but the Huskies got goals from
senior Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.) and sophomore Ben Loss (Wilmette, Illinois)
over the final ten minutes to put the game away. Siers finished the game with
four assists for the Huskies.
Senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) finished the game with 22
saves for the Huskies. Junior James Kalec (East Amherst, N.Y.) stopped 36 shots
in the Jumbo goal.
Southern Maine will host Saint Anselm College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and New
England College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) to close out the regular season. Tufts
will play at Babson College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and the University of
Massachusetts Boston on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
At Malden, Mass. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (14-7-2; 11-4-2) 2 2 4 8
Tufts (6-16-0; 3-14-0) 2 0 2 4
1st Period: 1. T, Ross Gimbel (Greg O'Connell) 1:13; 2. SM, Chris Sparkes
(Mark Carragher, Bobby Siers) 3:33; 3. SM, Carragher (Dane Marshall, Siers)
13:21 (pp); 4. T, Joe Milo (Evan Crosby, Phil Clark) 17:39.
2nd Period: 5. SM, Marc Santuccio (Tom Galiani, Chris Helms) 7:37; 6. SM,
Jordan Skinner (Chris Travis, Brad Flynn) 13:07.
3rd Period: 7. SM, Carragher (Sparkes, Travis) 4:17 (pp); 8. T, Gimbel (Joe
Cappellano, O'Connell) 6:45 (pp); 9. SM, Sparkes (Carragher, Siers) 7:15; 10.
T, Gimbel (Kurt Hertzog, O'Connell) 9:33; 11. SM, Brett Yancey (Sparkes, Siers)
10:48; 12. SM, Ben Loss (Carragher, Sparkes) 16:37.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (26 shots, 22 saves) T, James Kalec (44-36)
Power-Play Opportunities: SM, 2 for 3 T, 1 for 4
Shots On Goal: SM, 18-14-12 = 44 T, 8-8-10 = 26
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Friday, February 9, 2007
(With contributions from Conn. College Sports Information)
Southern Maine, Conn. College Play to 3-3 Tie
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Junior Rob Campbell (Reading, Mass.) scored with
3:41 remaining in regulation time to give the Connecticut College Camels a 3-3
overtime tie with the University of Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC East-
NESCAC inter-league game Friday at Dayton Arena in New London, Conn.
The tie leaves Southern Maine with a 13-7-2 record overall and 10-4-2 in
ECAC East games. Connecticut College, trying to earn a playoff berth in the
upcoming NESCAC tournament, is 7-12-2 overall and 6-9-1 in league play.
Campbell got the game-tying goal scoring his team-leading eighth goal of
the season off a set up from freshmen Ryan Howarth (Grand Blanc. Mich.) and
Trevor Bradley (West Hartford, Conn.).
Southern Maine had taken a 3-2 lead six minutes prior to Campbell's goal.
Sophomore Eric Morgani (Reading, Mass.) converted a play from freshman Pat
Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) and sophomore Ben Loss (Wilmette, Illinois) for his
third goal of the season at 10:13 to give the Huskies their only lead of the
game.
Conn. College grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening period, outshooting USM
18-9. Freshman Mike Kelly (Duxbury, Mass.) set up the game's first goal,
stealing the puck in the neutral zone. Kelly fed sophomore Avi Meyers (Maple
Glen, Pa.) in the high-slot for a one-timer and the Camels had a 1-0 lead. With
2:26 remaining, sophomore Shawn Keefe (Waltham, Mass.) buried a blast from the
left face-off.
In the middle period, the Huskies bounced back to tie the game. With 9:27
remaining, senior Chris Helms (Sandwich, Mass.) put in a rebound on the power
play to make it a 2-1 contest. Sophomore Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) and
senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's Newfoundland) picked up the assists.
Just before the intermission, Noonan scored the equalizer and the teams
headed to the locker room locked in a 2-2 tie. Helms and junior Mike Stevens
(Dover, N.H.) set up the play.
Freshmen Greg Parker (Trenton, Ontario) stopped 40 shots in net for the
Camels. Southern Maine senior netminder David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.)
finished with 30 saves.
Southern Maine travels to Malden, Mass., Saturday (3:00 p.m.) to take on
Tufts University. Conn. College will host Salem State College on Saturday (7:00
p.m.).
At New London, Conn. 1 2 3 OT Final
Southern Maine (13-7-2; 10-4-2) 0 2 1 0 3
Connecticut College (7-12-2; 6-9-1) 2 0 1 0 3
1st Period: 1. CC, Avi Meyers (Mike Kelly) 9:03; 2. CC, Shawn Keefe (Robbie
Tesar, Sean Driscoll) 17:34.
2nd Period: 3. SM, Chris Helms (Chris Travis, Chris Sparkes) 10:33 (pp); 4.
SM, Pat Noonan (Mike Stevens, Helms) 19:20.
3rd Period: 5. SM, Eric Morgani (Noonan, Ben Loss) 10:13; 6. CC, Rob Campbell
(Ryan Howarth, Trevor Bradley) 16:19.
Overtime: no scoring.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (33 shots, 30 saves) CC, Greg Parker (43-40)
Power-Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 10 CC, 0 for 4
Shots On Goal: SM, 9-20-12-2 = 43 CC, 18-7-5-3 = 33
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Saturday, February 3, 2007
Skidmore Holds Off Southern Maine 4-3
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomores Mike Gibbons (Braintree, Mass.) and Phil
McDavitt (Duxbury, Mass.) scored a pair of goals to give the nationally-ranked
Skidmore College Thoroughbreds a 4-3 victory over the University of Southern
Maine Huskies in an ECAC Men's East game Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice
Arena.
Skidmore, ranked 15th in this week's USCHO.com Division III poll, rebounded
from a 5-1 loss at Salem State College on Friday with the win over the first-
place Huskies. The Thoroughbreds improve to 13-6-2 overall and 9-4-2 in the
league. Southern Maine slips to 13-7-1 overall and 10-4-1 in the league.
Gibbons scored what proved to be the game winner midway through the third
period when he snapped a shot from about 40 feet out past USM senior goalie
David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) to make it 4-2. Freshman Anthony Ferri (Jersey
City, N.J.) picked up the only assist.
Southern Maine got back within one when senior Mark Carragher
(Charlottetown, PEI) scored a power-play goal with 3:17 remaining in regulation.
The goal was the 60th of Carragher's career, making him the all-time leading
goal scorer in USM history. Carragher past Richard McSorley (1990-93) who had
59 goals.
The Huskies, who scored all three of their goals with the man advantage,
went back on the power play with 2:31 left, and pulled Beckles for the final 27
seconds, but were unable to pot the equalizer.
Southern Maine took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by sophomore
Ben Loss (Wilmette, Illinois), set up by Carragher, at 9:38. Skidmore tied the
game five minutes later when Gibbons scored his first of the game. McDavitt
scored a power-play goal at 17:37 off a set up from Ferri and sophomore Steve
Keady (Canton, Mass.) to give the visitors a 2-1 margin after one period.
Freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) tied the game for USM early in the
second period, set up by freshmen Jordan Skinner (London, Ontario) and Chris
Travis (Scituate, Mass.). McDavitt's second power-play goal at 9:47, assisted
by senior Rob Hutchison (Waterville, N.Y.), restored the Thoroughbreds one-goal
advantage.
Freshman goalie D.J. Delbuono (Westborough, Mass.) finished with 29 saves
for Skidmore. Beckles had 23 stops.
Southern Maine hits the road next weekend traveling to Connecticut College
on Friday (4:00 p.m.) and Tufts University on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). Skidmore
will host Saint Michael's College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Norwich University
on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Skidmore (13-6-2; 9-4-2) 2 1 1 4
Southern Maine (13-7-1; 10-4-1) 1 1 1 3
1st Period: 1. SM, Ben Loss (Mark Carragher) 9:38 (pp); 2. Sk, Mike Gibbons
(Tim Daley) 14:36; 3. Sk, Phil McDavitt (Anthony Ferri, Steve Keady) 17:37
(pp).
2nd Period: 4. SM, Pat Noonan (Jordan Skinner, Chris Travis) 2:07 (pp); 5. Sk,
McDavitt (Rob Hutchison) 9:47 (pp).
3rd Period: 6. Sk, Gibbons (Ferri) 11:28; 7. SM, Carragher (Chris Sparkes,
Dane Marshall) 16:43 (pp).
Goalies: Sk, D.J. Delbuono (32 shots, 29 saves) SM, David Beckles (59:33,
27-23)
Power-Play Opportunities: Sk, 2 for 6 SM, 3 for 7
Shots On Goal: Sk, 12-10-5 =27 SM, 9-10-13 = 32
################################################################################
Friday, February 2, 2007
Southern Maine Downs Castleton State 3-1
GORHAM, Maine -- Freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) had a goal and
an assist as the University of Southern Maine Huskies scored three times in the
third period to take a 3-1 victory over the Castleton State College Spartans in
a game between the ECAC Men's East's top two teams Friday night at the USM Ice
Arena.
The win was the Huskies' seven in the last eight games, and raises their
record to 13-6-1 overall and 10-3-1 in the league. The Spartans, who had their
eight-game winning streak snapped, slip to 13-4-3 overall and 8-3-3 in the
league. With the win, the Huskies move into sole possession of first place in
the standings. The Spartans slip to second place, one point ahead of Skidmore
College and Norwich University.
After 40 minutes of scoreless hockey dominated by the goaltending of
Castleton State sophomore Jeff Swanson (Grand Haven, Mich.) and Southern Maine
senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.), the Huskies got on the board at 1:10 of
the third period when Noonan potted his eight goal of the season off a set up
from sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine). Junior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.)
picked up the second assist.
Senior defenseman Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.) got what proved to be the
game-winner at 9:27, converting a short-handed breakaway with a shot over
Swanson's glove hand after receiving a pass from Smith. The goal was Yancey's
first of the season.
Sophomore Josh Giordani (Quincy, Mass.) made it 3-0 for USM at 15:22, set
up by Noonan and freshman Jordan Skinner (London, Ontario).
Junior Jeff Beecher (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) gave the Spartans some life
scoring on a rebound at 17:45. Freshman Jeff Alexander (Gilbert, Ariz.) and
sophomore Ryan Bartlett (Brunswick, Maine) picked up the assists.
Beckles finished the game with 21 saves for the Huskies. Swanson stopped
27 shots.
Southern Maine will host Skidmore on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). Castleton State
travels to Salem State College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Castleton State (13-4-3; 8-3-3) 0 0 1 1
Southern Maine (13-6-1; 10-3-1) 0 0 3 3
1st Period: no scoring.
2nd Period: no scoring.
3rd Period: 1. SM, Pat Noonan (Kyle Smith, Mike Stevens) 1:10; 2. SM, Brett
Yancey (Smith) 9:27 (sh); 3. SM, Josh Giordani (Noonan, Jordan Skinner) 15:22;
4. CS, Jeff Beecher (Jeff Alexander, Ryan Bartlett) 17:45.
Goalies: CS, Jeff Swanson (59:10, 30 shots, 27 saves) SM, David Beckles
(60:00, 22-21)
Power-Play Opportunities: CS, 0 for 8 SM, 0 for 4
Shots On Goal: CS, 6-8-8 = 22 SM, 8-13-9 = 30
################################################################################
Saturday, January 27, 2007
(Courtesy of Colby College Sports Information)
Southern Maine Pulls Away From Colby 7-2
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) had two
goals and two assists as the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's ice
hockey team pulled away in the third period for a 7-2 victory over the Colby
College Mules in an ECAC East-NESCAC inter-league game Saturday at Alfond Rink.
The win raises the Huskies' record to 12-6-1 overall and 9-3-1 in league
play, and keeps the Huskies in a first place tie in the ECAC East standings with
Castleton State College. Colby had its three-game winning streak stopped, and
falls to 9-6-2 overall and 7-5-1 in league games.
Southern Maine, which led 3-1 after two periods, scored three goals in the
first 5:44 of the final period to pull away. Senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's,
Newfoundland), sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine) and senior captain Mark
Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) had the goals to start the third period for the
Huskies. Carragher's goal was the 59th of his career, tying him with Richard
McSorley (1990-93) as the Huskies all-time goal-scoring leader.
After a Colby goal by Matt Strickland (Leduc, Alberta) at 6:46, Noonan
closed out the scoring with his second goal of the game at 7:35.
Colby's Eric Simmons (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and USM freshman Jordan Skinner
(London, Ontario) traded goals in the opening period.
Noonan and Smith scored goals in the final 5:20 of the second period to
give USM a 3-1 lead.
Senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) stopped 28 shots for USM in 50
minutes of work in goal before giving way to junior Tyler Ravlo (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia) who made five saves. Senior Ben Grandjean (Waterford, Conn.) had 30
saves for Colby. Rookie Jared Tepper (Monroe Twp., N.J.) had no saves in 2:30
of action.
Southern Maine will host Castleton State next Friday night (February 2,
7:00 p.m.) in a first place showdown at the USM Ice Arena. Colby travels to
upstate New York to play Hamilton College on Friday (7:00 p.m.).
At Waterville, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (12-6-1; 9-3-1) 1 2 4 7
Colby (9-6-2; 7-5-1) 1 0 1 2
1st Period: 1. C, Eric Simmons (Mike Policinski, Adam Marino), 14:51; 2. SM,
Jordan Skinner (Marc Santuccio, Kyle Smith), 18:55.
2nd Period: 3. SM, Pat Noonan (unassisted) 14:40; 4. SM, Kyle Smith (Mike
Stevens, Pat Noonan), 17:14.
3rd Period: 5. SM, Chris Sparkes (Mark Carragher, Bobby Siers), 2:45; 6. SM,
Smith (Noonan, Skinner), 5:05; 7. SM, Carragher (Bobby Siers, Chris Helms),
5:44; 8. C, Matt Strickland (Mike Butler), 6:46; 9. SM, Noonan (Stevens,
Helms), 7:35.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (49:34, 30 shots, 28 saves), Tyler Ravlo (10:26, 5-5)
C, Ben Grandjean (57:30, 35-30), Jared Tepper (2:30, 2-0).
Power-Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 3 C, 0 for 5
Shots On Goal: SM, 10-14-13 = 37 C, 14-12-9 = 35.
################################################################################
Friday, January 26, 2007
(Courtesy of Bowdoin College Sports Information)
Bowdoin Defeats Southern Maine 3-2
BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Sophomore Matt Lentini (Belmont, Mass.) scored the
game-winning goal midway through the third period to give the Bowdoin College
Polar Bears a 3-2 victory over the 14th-ranked University of Southern Maine
Huskies in an ECAC East-NESCAC inter-league game Friday evening at Dayton Arena.
The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Polar Bears, and lifts their
record to 9-4-3 overall and 6-4-2 in league play. The Huskies had their five-
game winning streak stopped, and fall to 11-6-1 overall and 8-3-1 in the league.
Halfway through the final period, Bowdoin rookie defenseman Mike Corbelle
(Byfield, Mass.) collected the puck behind his own net and played a pass up the
boards into the Southern Maine end. Lentini skated behind the Husky defense,
gathered the puck and snapped a shot from the face-off circle that slid through
the pads of Southern Maine senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) for the
go-ahead score at 9:44. The Huskies drew a power play late in the frame, and
pulled Beckles from the net, but could not find the equalizer.
Freshman Ryan Blossom (Concord, N.H.) put Bowdoin on the board first with a
power-play goal at 12:06 of the opening frame. Rookie Colin MacCormick
(Bedford, Nova Scotia) and sophomore Matt Smith (Yarmouth, Maine) picked up the
assists.
The hosts doubled their lead on a tally from freshman Leland Fidler
(Waltham, Mass.), set up by MacCormick and rookie Mitch Dillon (Aurora,
Ontario), midway through the second stanza before Southern Maine pieced together
a rally late in the period.
Senior captain Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) notched a power-play
goal for the Huskies at 15:37, assisted by junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia) and senior Chris Sparkes (St. John’s, Newfoundland). Less than three
minutes later, the Huskies drew even on a score by Sparkes, helped by Carragher,
at 18:16, sending the game deadlocked into the third period.
Freshman Chris Rossi (Barrington, R.I.) made 22 saves for Bowdoin, which
snapped a two-year losing skid to their rivals from Gorham. Beckles made 28
stops for Southern Maine, who were out-shot 31-24.
Southern Maine returns to action Saturday (4:00 pm.) afternoon traveling to
Waterville, Maine, to play Colby College. Bowdoin will entertain Salem State
College on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
At Brunswick, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (11-6-1; 8-3-1) 0 2 0 2
Bowdoin (9-4-3; 6-4-2) 1 1 1 3
1st Period: 1. B, Ryan Blossom (Colin MacCormick, Matt Smith) 12:06 (pp).
2nd Period: 2. B, Leland Fidler (MacCormick, Mitch Dillon) 12:30; 3. SM, Mark
Carragher (Dane Marshall, Chris Sparkes) 15:37 (pp); 4. SM, Sparkes (Carragher)
18:16.
3rd Period: 5. B, Matt Lentini (Mike Corbelle) 9:34.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (58:48, 31 shots, 28 saves)
B, Chris Rossi (60:00, 24-22)
Power-Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 3 B, 1 for 5
Shots On Goal: SM, 6-9-9 = 24 B, 11-12-8 = 31
################################################################################
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
David Beckles Named ECAC East Goalie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) of the
nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team has been
named the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men's East Goalie of the
Week for the week of January 15-21. The announcement was made Tuesday evening
by the ECAC office located in Centerville, Mass.
This is the fourth time this season, and the fifth time in his career, that
Beckles has won the weekly honor. He previously won the award this season on
November 21, December 5 and January 16.
In two road games last weekend, Beckles compiled a 1.50 goals against
average, a .948 save percentage (55 saves) and a 2-0 record.
The 6-foot-2 Beckles made 16 saves in the Huskies' 7-2, come-from-behind
win over the University of Massachusetts Boston. He followed that performance
with a season-high, 39-save effort in a 3-1 win over Babson College. The two
wins catapulted the Huskies into first place in the ECAC Men's East standings.
For the season, Beckles has a 2.38 goals against average with a .918 save
percentage (371 saves) and a 9-4-1 record. He also has posted two shutouts.
Southern Maine, 11-5-1 overall, 8-2-1 in the league and tied for 14th in
this week's USCHO.com Division III poll, returns to action with road games
against instate rivals Bowdoin College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Colby College
on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Smith, Beckles Lead Southern Maine Past Babson 3-1
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Sophomore forward Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine) scored
a pair of third period goals and senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.)
turned aside 39 shots to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 3-1
victory over the Babson College Beavers in an ECAC Men's East game Saturday at
the Babson Skating Center.
The win, coupled with New England College's 1-0 loss at Williams College,
moves Southern Maine into sole possession of first place in the ECAC Men's East
standings. The Huskies are two points ahead of NEC, and three points ahead of
Babson, Norwich University and Skidmore College.
Southern Maine extended its unbeaten string to six games (5-0-1) with the
win, and is now 11-5-1 overall and 8-2-1 in league play. This was Southern
Maine's first win at Babson since December 1996, and snapped a four-game losing
skid at the hands of the Beavers.
Babson, winners in six of its previous seven games, slips to 10-6-0 overall
and 7-4-0 in the league.
Beckles and Babson sophomore Skylar Nipps (Orlando, Fla.) were the story
throughout the first 40 minutes of play keeping the teams in a scoreless
deadlock. Beckles made 30 saves while Nipps kicked out 21 shots through the
first two periods.
Smith broke the scoring drought in the opening minute of the third period,
tallying his fourth goal of the season off assists from junior Mike Stevens
(Dover, N.H.) and freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.).
Senior captain Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) scored his team-leading
16th goal, and the eventual game winner, at 4:41, set up by senior Chris Sparkes
(St. John's, Newfoundland).
Babson made things interesting as sophomore Brad Baldelli (Northboro,
Mass.) spoiled Beckles shutout bid with his 12th goal at 13:10. Sophomore Alex
DiPietro (Winthrop, Mass.) and Nipps picked up the assists.
Smith's second goal into an empty net with 1:03 remaining sealed the
victory for the Huskies.
Southern Maine will be on the road again next weekend when it travels to
Bowdoin College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Colby College on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
Babson travels to Skidmore College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Castleton State on
Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
At Babson Park, Mass. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (11-5-1; 8-2-1) 0 0 3 3
Babson (10-6-0; 7-4-0) 0 0 1 1
1st Period: no scoring.
2nd Period: no scoring.
3rd Period: 1. SM, Kyle Smith (Mike Stevens, Pat Noonan) 0:58; 2. SM, Mark
Carragher (Chris Sparkes) 4:41; 3. B, Brad Baldelli (Alex DiPietro, Skylar
Nipps) 13:10; 4. SM, Smith (unassisted) 18:57 (en).
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (40 shots, 39 saves) B, Skylar Nipps (58:20,
33-31)
Power Play Opportunities: SM, 0 for 6 B, 0 for 6
Shots On Goal: SM, 12-9-13 = 34 B, 14-16-10 = 40
################################################################################
Friday, January 19, 2006
(Courtesy of UMass Boston Sports Information)
Southern Maine Scores Six in Third Period, Downs UMass Boston 7-2
BOSTON -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s ice hockey team
exploded for seven unanswered goals, including six in the third period, en-route
to a 7-2 victory over the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons Friday
night in an ECAC East contest at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of
UMass Boston.
The Beacons fall to 4-11-1 overall and 2-8-0 in league play, while the
Huskies run their unbeaten streak to five in a row, including four straight
wins, to improve to 10-5-1 and 7-2-1.
Freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) scored just 1:21 into the third
period to tie the contest at 2-2 for Southern Maine, and senior Chris Sparkes
(St. John’s Newfoundland) followed just 1:44 later with a goal at 3:05 go give
the Huskies the lead for good.
Junior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.) kept the pressure on for Southern Maine
when he potted his fourth goal of the season at less than three minutes later at
5:50 for a 4-2 USM margin. Senior Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) finally
broke through on the power play for the Huskies, who were 1-for-10 with an extra
man for the night, when he went top shelf for his 15th goal of the year at 10:01
of the final period to give them a 5-2 advantage.
Noonan followed with his second goal of the night just 1:18 later to give
Southern Maine a 6-2 cushion at the 11:19 mark. Senior Chris Helms (Sandwich,
Mass.) capped the scoring for the Huskies with a shot into the right side with
2:15 to play in the contest.
UMass Boston got on the board first when sophomore forward Rocco Dabecco
(South Park, Penn.) and freshman forward Ryan Daust (Marquette, Mich.) found
freshman forward Adam Larrabee (Beverly, Mass.) crashing the net for a power-
play goal at 11:54 of the opening period for a 1-0 Beacons’ edge.
Junior forward Kyle Simpson (Scituate, Mass.) gave UMass Boston a 2-0 lead
when he snuck a back-hander into the left corner at 14:38 with an assist from
sophomore forwards Aaron Burke (Rowley, Mass.) and Chris Flaherty (South Boston,
Mass).
Senior Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois) wasted no time in responding
for the Huskies when he potted his third goal of the season just 29 seconds
later to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 15:07 gone in the middle period.
Freshman goaltender Ryan Donovan (Rexford, N.Y.) stood on his head for the
Beacons for the first two periods stopping 36 shots prior to Southern Maine’s
big third period. Donovan finished the game with 46 saves in 51:19 of action
and allowed six goals, while sophomore goaltender Chris Testa (Massapequa, N.Y.)
stopped five shots and allowed a score in the final 8:41 in relief. Senior
David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) earned the win for the Huskies with 16 saves.
Noonan finished the night with a pair of goals and two assists to lead USM.
UMass Boston will be in action again tomorrow when it hosts Salem State
College in an ECAC East match-up at the Clark Athletic Center at 3:00 p.m.
Southern Maine travels to Babson Park, Mass., to take on Babson College at 4:00
p.m.
At Boston 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (10-5-1; 7-2-1) 0 1 6 7
UMass Boston (4-11-1; 2-8-0) 1 1 0 2
1st Period: 1. UMB, Adam Larrabee (Rocco Dabecco, Ryan Daust) 11:54 (pp).
2nd Period: 2. UMB, Kyle Simpson (Aaron Burke, Chris Flaherty) 14:38; 3. SM,
Bobby Siers (Chris Sparkes, Mark Carragher) 15:07.
3rd Period: 4. SM, Pat Noonan (Mike Stevens) 1:21; 5. SM, Sparkes (Carragher)
3:05; 6. SM, Stevens (Noonan) 5:50; 7. SM, Carragher (Ben Loss, Siers) 10:01
(pp); 8. SM, Noonan (Stevens) 11:19; 9. SM, Chris Helms (Dan Marshall, Noonan)
17:45.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (18 shots, 16 saves) UMB, Ryan Donovan (51:19,
52-46), Chris Testa (8:41, 6-5)
Power Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 10 UMB, 1 for 4
Shots On Goal: SM, 17-20-21 = 58 UMB, 4-8-6 = 18
################################################################################
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Carragher, Beckles Receive ECAC East Recognition
GORHAM, Maine -- Seniors Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI/The Hoosac
School) and David Beckles (Stamford, Conn./Fredonia State) of the University of
Southern Maine Huskies men's ice hockey team have been recognized by the Eastern
College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for their outstanding play during the week of
January 8-14.
Carragher was named the ECAC East Player of the Week while Beckles was
tabbed as the Goalie of the Week. This is the first time this season, and the
second time in his career, that Carragher has been picked as the Player of the
Week. Beckles has been named the top goalie three times this season (November
21, December 5 and January 16), and the four times in his career. The weekly
awards were announced Tuesday evening by the ECAC offices in Centerville, Mass.
In three games last week, Carragher scored five goals and dished out five
assists to lead the Huskies to a 3-0 mark, and in the process became the
school's all-time leading scorer. Beckles played in two games, posting a 2.00
goals against average and a .943 save percentage.
"It's very rewarding when your team leader (Carragher) is your best player
and is having such a great year. His consistency and the level of his play game
in, game out has been the thing that's impressed me the most," commented head
coach Jeff Beaney, who is in his 20th season at USM.
Beaney went on to say, "(Beckles) obviously played so well down the stretch
last season, and he's continued to perform at that high level this season.
Since last January, he's been one of the top goaltenders in the league. That's
a testament to his work ethic."
Carragher, the team captain, opened the week collecting a goal and two
assists in an 8-2 non-conference win over Framingham State College. In his next
game, the 5-foot-8 center picked up his third career hat trick in a 5-2, come-
from-behind victory over Hamilton College. Carragher's third goal, which
equaled the all-time scoring mark of 108 points by Travis Bezio (1991-95), came
when he converted a penalty shot with 4:05 to play.
Carragher finished the week with a goal and three assists in a 6-2 win over
nationally-ranked Amherst College. He set the career scoring mark in the second
period when he assisted on a power-play goal by line mate Chris Sparkes (St.
John's, Newfoundland), and picked up the game-winning goal in the third period.
Heading into this weekend's action, Carragher has 112 points (55g, 57a).
Beckles backstopped the Huskies' victories over Hamilton and Amherst. The
6-foot-2 goalie stopped 35 shots in the win over Hamilton and 31 against
Amherst, including 15 in the final period. Beckles outstanding play against
Hamilton kept the game at a one-goal difference until the Huskies scored four
unanswered goals in the final 11 minutes. Against Amherst, the Huskies again
exploded for four unanswered goals after the Lord Jeffs had tied the game early
in the third period.
On the season, Carragher has racked up 14 goals and 15 assists in 15 games.
He shares the team lead for power-play goals with Sparkes at six. Beckles has
compiled a 2.53 goals against average with a .913 save percentage and a 7-4-1
record in 12 games (712:31).
Southern Maine, 9-5-1 overall and tied with New England College for first
place in the current ECAC East standings with a 6-2-1 mark, hit the road for two
conference games this weekend. The Huskies will be at the University of
Massachusetts Boston on Friday night (7:00 p.m.) and at Babson College on
Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Southern Maine Downs Nationally-Ranked Amherst 6-2
Mark Carragher Sets All-time USM Scoring Record
GORHAM, Maine -- Seniors Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) and
Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) combined for three goals and four assists to
lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 6-2 victory over the
nationally-ranked Amherst College Lord Jeffs in an ECAC East-NESCAC inter-league
game Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.
The win extends the Huskies unbeaten string to four games (3-0-1), and
improved their record to 9-5-1 overall and 6-2-1 in league play. Coupled with
results from other games Saturday, the Huskies moved into a tie for first place
with New England College in the ECAC East standings.
The Lord Jeffs, ranked 14th in this week's USCHO.com Division III national
poll, had their three-game winning streak stopped and fell to 9-3-1 overall and
6-2-1 in league play. Despite the loss, the Lord Jeffs remained atop the NESCAC
standings.
The teams traded first period goals as freshman Igor Karlov (Huntingdon
Valley, Penn.) netted an unassisted goal for USM at 9:12, and sophomore Joel
Covelli (Carlisle, Ontario) got the equalizer for Amherst at 18:18.
Sparkes scored the only goal of the second period at 5:07 while the Huskies
were on the power play. Carragher drew the first of his three assists to become
the program’s all-time leading scorer, passing Travis Bezio (1991-1995). With
his four points, Carragher now has 112 points on 55 goals and 57 assists.
Amherst tied the game at 2-2 at 4:37 of the third period on a power-play
goal by junior Kyle Schoppel (Cambridge, Ontario) before the Huskies rattled off
four unanswered goals in the final 14 minutes.
Carragher scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, set up by Sparkes
and senior Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.) at 6:11. Senior Chris Helms (Sandwich,
Mass.), sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine), and Sparkes accounted for the
final three goals. Helms and Sparkes scored while USM had the man advantage.
Smith goal was short handed.
Senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) played another strong game
between the pipes for the Huskies making 31 saves, including 15 in the final
period. Senior Josh Fillman (Charlestown, Mass.) finished with 27 saves for the
Lord Jeffs.
Southern Maine hits the road next weekend for ECAC East games at the
University of Massachusetts Boston on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Babson College on
Saturday (4:00 p.m.). Amherst will host Skidmore College on Friday (7:00 p.m.)
and Castleton State College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) in a pair of ECAC East-
NESCAC inter-league games.
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Amherst (9-3-1; 6-2-1) 1 0 1 2
Southern Maine (9-5-1; 6-2-1) 1 1 4 6
1st Period: 1. SM, Igor Karlov (unassisted) 9:12; 2. A, Joel Covelli (Sean
Ellis) 18:18.
2nd Period: 3. SM, Chris Sparkes (Mark Carragher, Dane Marshall) 5:07 (pp).
3rd Period: 4. A, Kyle Schoppel (Gregg Adamo, Jack Baer) 4:37 (pp); 5. SM,
Carragher (Sparkes, Brett Yancey) 6:11; 6. SM, Chris Helms (Mike Stevens, Marc
Santuccio) 11:21 (pp); 7. SM, Kyle Smith (Carragher, Marshall) 12:41 (sh); 8.
SM, Sparkes (Carragher, Marshall) 18:20 (pp).
Goalies: A, Josh Fillman (33 shots, 27 saves) SM, David Beckles (33-31)
Power Play Opportunities: A, 1 for 8 SM, 3 for 7
Shots On Goal: A, 12-5-16 = 33 SM, 15-11-7 = 33
################################################################################
Friday, January 12, 2007
Carragher, Beckles Leads Huskies Past Hamilton 5-2
Carragher Ties All-time Scoring Mark on Penalty Shot
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI)
scored a hat trick and senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) stopped 35
shots to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 5-2 victory over the
Hamilton College Continentals in an ECAC East-NESCAC interleague game Friday
night at the USM Ice Arena.
The win runs the Huskies' unbeaten string to three games (2-0-1), and
improves their record to 8-5-1 overall and 5-2-1 in league play. The
Continentals dropped their sixth straight game after a 3-0-1 start to fall to
3-6-1 overall and 3-4-1 in league games.
With his third career hat trick, Carragher tied the school record for
scoring, equaling Travis Bezio's (1991-1995) mark of 108 points. Carragher tied
the record with 4:05 left in the third period when he converted a penalty shot
for his third goal of the game. The penalty shot was called after a Hamilton
defensive player covered the puck in the crease.
Beckles was brilliant throughout the game as the Continentals piled up a
37-19 advantage in shots on goal. He was very strong in the third period,
keeping the Huskies within reach of the Continentals before Carragher tied the
game at 2-2 with an unassisted goal at 12:26. Southern Maine played the first
7:52 of the final period down one or more skaters.
Hamilton got the only goal of the first period with nine seconds remaining
on the clock. Sophomore Travis Blood (Pepperell, Mass.) got credit for the goal
with senior Pat McGarry (Kennett Square, Penn.) collecting the only assist.
Carragher's first goal, coming while the Huskies enjoyed a 5-on-3
advantage, tied the game at 12:26 of the middle period. Senior Chris Sparkes
(St. John's, Newfoundland) had the lone assist.
The tie lasted less than six minutes as junior Andrew Decristoforo
(Manotick, Ontario) ripped a shot from 20 feet out in the slot past Beckles.
After Carragher tied the game, Sparkes got the game-winning goal at 15:14
off assists from junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) and senior Marc
Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.). Freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) wrapped
up the scoring with the final goal at 17:34.
Southern Maine penalty killers played a big role in the game, keeping
Hamilton off the scoresheet despite 13 man-advantage opportunities. The game
had 32 penalties called for a total of 94 minutes.
The Huskies return to action Saturday afternoon (3:00 p.m.) when they host
Amherst College. Hamilton will travel to Salem State College on Saturday (3:00
p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Hamilton (3-6-1; 3-4-1) 1 1 0 2
Southern Maine (8-5-1; 5-2-1) 0 1 4 5
1st Period: 1. H, Travis Blood (Pat McGarry) 19:51.
2nd Period: 2. SM, Mark Carragher (Chris Sparkes) 12:26 (pp); 3. H, Andrew
Decristoforo (Chris Lorenc, Jim Nolan) 18:03.
3rd Period: 4. SM, Carragher (unassisted) 9:49; 5. SM, Sparkes (Dane Marshall,
Marc Santuccio) 15:14; 6. SM, Carragher (penalty shot) 15:55; 7. SM, Pat
Noonan (Mike Stevens, Ben Loss) 17:34.
Goalies: H, Matt Crowson (19 shots, 14 saves) SM, David Beckles (37-35)
Power Play Opportunities: H, 0 for 13 SM, 1 for 6
Shots On Goal: H, 11-15-11 = 37 SM, 4-6-9 = 19
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Southern Maine Pulls Away From Framingham State 8-2
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) and
junior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.) each had four points to lead the University of
Southern Maine Huskies to an 8-2 victory over the visiting Framingham State
College Rams in a non-conference game Tuesday night at the USM Ice Arena.
The win lifts the Huskies' overall record to 7-5-1. Framingham State,
which dropped its fifth game in its last six outings, falls to 2-11-1.
Sparkes had a pair of goals, including the game winner, and two assists.
Stevens dished out four assists in the game. Senior captain Mark Carragher
(Charlottetown, PEI) and junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) each had a
goal and two assists.
Sparkes had the only goal of the first period, set up by Carragher, at
18:43 to give USM a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Framingham State sophomore
goalie Matthew Trusz (Ludlow, Mass.) kept things close stopping 16 shots as the
Huskies piled up a 17-3 advantage in shots on goal in the period.
Trusz kept the Rams in the game throughout the second period as the Huskies
continued to apply unrelenting pressure. Senior Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect,
Illinois) batted a loose puck into the net out of a scramble in front of Trusz
at 13:03 to make it 2-0 before Sparkes ripped a 35-foot shot into the upper left
corner four minutes later. The period ended at 3-0 as Trusz posted another 17
saves.
Southern Maine pulled away in the third period, scoring four times in the
first 10:16, and five times in the period. The eight goals was a season-high
for the Huskies. Sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine), Carragher, Marshall and
freshman Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) lit the lamp to push the margin to 7-0.
Framingham State freshman Joseph Mulvey (Charlestown, Mass.) spoiled USM
junior goalie Ryan Sullivan's bid for a shutout with 4:35 remaining, scoring an
unassisted goal. Junior Tim Richard (Leominster, Mass.) added a power-play goal
for the Rams at 16:50 before Noonan closed the scoring with his second goal of
the night at 18:10.
Trusz finished the game with 42 saves. Sullivan was credited with 12 saves
for the Huskies.
Southern Maine returns to the ice on Friday when it hosts Hamilton College
on Friday (7:00 p.m.). Framingham State travels to Nichols College on Saturday
(8:15 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Framingham State (2-11-1) 0 0 2 2
Southern Maine (7-5-1) 1 2 5 8
1st Period: 1. SM, Chris Sparkes (Mark Carragher) 18:43.
2nd Period: 2. SM, Bobby Siers, Sparkes, Carragher) 13:03; 3. SM, Sparkes
(Dane Marshall, Mike Stevens) 17:03.
3rd Period: 4. SM, Kyle Smith (Josh Giordano, Stevens) 3:22; 5. SM, Carragher
(Brett Yancey, Jordan Skinner) 5:13; 6. SM, Marshall (Siers, Sparkes) 9:48; 7.
SM, Pat Noonan (Stevens) 10:16; 8. FS, Joseph Mulvey (unassisted) 15:25; 9.
FS, Tim Richard (Jason Akstin, Ryan Sullivan) 16:50 (pp); 10. SM, Noonan
(Marshall, Stevens) 18:10.
Goalies: FS, Matthew Trusz (50 shots, 42 saves) SM, Ryan Sullivan (14-12)
Power Play Opportunities: FS, 1 for 6 SM, 0 for 8
Shots on Goal: FS, 3-3-8 = 14 SM, 17-19-14 = 50
################################################################################
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Southern Maine, Trinity Play to 2-2 Tie
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Senior Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) had a goal
and an assist, and senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) stopped 32
shots, as the University of Southern Maine Huskies played the Trinity College
Bantams to a 2-2 overtime tie in an ECAC East-NESCAC inter-league game Saturday
afternoon in Hartford.
The tie leaves the Huskies with a 6-5-1 overall record and a 4-2-1 mark in
the league. The Bantams, unbeaten in their last three games (2-0-1) are 4-4-2
overall and 2-2-2 in league games.
Senior Simon Dionne (Montreal, Quebec) gave the Bantams a 1-0 lead with his
first goal of the season at 3:19 of the first period.
With the Huskies enjoying a five-on-four advantage, Carragher and junior
Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.) set up senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfound-
land) for the tying goal at 11:17.
Carragher would give the Huskies a 2-1 lead just over three minutes later
when he notched his team-leading ninth goal of the season, and the 50th goal of
his career, while the Huskies were on the power play. Carragher is the second
player in USM history to reach the 50-goal plateau, joining Richard McSorley
(1990-93) as members of that exclusive club. Senior Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect,
Illinois) and junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) picked up the assists
on the milestone marker.
Senior John Halverson (Lexington, Mass.), who had an assist on the Dionne
goal, got the game-tying power-play goal at 14:25 of the second period off an
assist from sophomore Chris Powers (Lynnfield, Mass.).
Beckles and Trinity rookie goalie David Murison (Woodstock, Vt.) would not
permit another goal over the final 25:35 of regulation and the five-minute
overtime session. Beckles made 16 saves in the third period and three more in
overtime to preserve the tie. Murison, who had 15 saves in the opening period,
finished the game with 38 saves.
The Huskies return to action Tuesday night (7:00 p.m.) when they host
Framingham State College in their final non-conference game of the regular
season. The Bantams will travel to Curry College for a non-league game on
Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).
At Hartford, Conn. 1 2 3 OT Final
Southern Maine (6-5-1; 4-2-1) 2 0 0 0 2
Trinity (4-4-2; 2-2-2) 1 1 0 0 2
1st Period: 1. T, Simon Dionne (Daniel Maturi, John Halverson) 3:19; 2. SM,
Chris Sparkes (Mike Stevens, Mark Carragher) 11:17 (pp); 3. SM, Carragher
(Bobby Siers, Dane Marshall) 14:38 (pp).
2nd Period: 4. T, Halverson (Chris Powers) 14:25 (pp).
3rd Period: no scoring.
Overtime: no scoring.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (34 shots, 32 saves) T, David Murison (40-38)
Power Play Opportunities: SM, 2 for 6 T, 1 for 4
Shots On Goal: SM, 17-11-12-0 = 40 T, 8-7-16-3 = 34
################################################################################
Friday, January 5, 2007
(Courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Information)
Wesleyan Special Teams Defeat Southern Maine 5-1
Carragher Notches 100th Career Point for USM
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- In a game that featured five power-play goals and
one short-handed marker, Wesleyan University scored five unanswered goals after
falling behind 1-0 in the first period en route to a 5-1 league win over
visiting University of Southern Maine Friday night.
The win extends the Cardinals unbeaten string to four games (3-0-1), and
lifts their record to 4-3-2 overall and 2-2-1 in league contests. The Huskies
dip to 6-5-0 overall and 4-2-0 in league play. Wesleyan now leads in the
overall series, 6-5-1.
Freshman Jeff Beck (Warrington, Penn.) tied the game for Wesleyan at 5:16
of the second period by tipping in a loose puck on the right side after a
scramble in from of the Husky goal. That came on the power play as the
Cardinals went 4-for-9 with the man-advantage.
Freshman David Layne (Flourtown, Penn.) got credit for the eventual game-
winner 3:34 later as he received a perfect centering pass from senior Taylor
Evans (Milton, Mass.) from behind the net on the left and popped a quick wrist
shot into the net. Wesleyan kept the string going when sophomore Dallas Bossort
(Bismarck, N.D.) went two-thirds of the rink on a short-handed, two-on-one
situation, used his teammate as a decoy, and put a high wrist shot over the
right shoulder of USM goalie senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) at 11:23.
Wesleyan finished the period up 4-1 when freshman Sam Robinson (Winchester,
Mass.) received a centering pass to the slot from the right side by junior Ed
Klein (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and swept a shot into the goal at 16:57 on the power
play.
Wesleyan got its final goal with a two-man advantage at 10:22 of the third
period as Beck tipped in a point shot by Bossort.
Southern Maine, which came into the game leading the ECAC East with a 4-1
league record, got on the board first at 13:23 of the first period when leading
scorer senior Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) combined on a give-and-go
with senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) in the right circle.
Carragher tucked in the puck for the power-play marker, his eighth goal of the
season, and his 100th career point. It was the only shot by Southern Maine in
the first period as the Huskies had a season low 10 shots on net in the game.
Carragher is the second USM player in school history to record 100 career
points (49g, 51a), and trails only Travis Bezio (1991-95, 108 points) on the
all-time scoring list.
Wesleyan had 22 shots and sophomore goalie Mike Palladino had nine saves
for the win. Beckles finished with 17 saves for the Huskies.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) at Trinity
College. Wesleyan will host Salem State College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
At Middletown, Conn. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (6-5-0; 4-2-0) 1 0 0 1
Wesleyan (4-3-2; 2-2-1) 0 4 1 5
1st Period: 1. SM, Mark Carragher (Chris Sparkes, Dane Marshall) 13:23 (pp).
2nd Period: 2. W, Jeff Beck (Will Bennett, David Layne) 5:16 (pp); 3. W, Layne
(Taylor Evans, Bennett) 8:50 (pp); 4. W, Dallas Bossort (unassisted) 11:23
(sh); 5. W, Sam Robinson (Ed Klein, Brian Erenson) 16:57 (pp).
3rd Period: 6. W, Beck (Bossort, Bennett) 10:22 (pp).
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (22 shots, 17 saves) W, Mike Palladino (10-9)
Power Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 8 W, 4 for 9
Shots On Goal: SM, 1-3-6 = 10 W, 3-10-9 = 22
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Southern Maine Downs Plymouth State 7-1
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) stopped 21
shots and the University of Southern Maine Huskies received goals from seven
different players en route to a 7-1 victory over the Plymouth State University
Panthers in a non-conference game Tuesday night at the USM Ice Arena.
The win lifts the Huskies' overall record to 6-4-0. Plymouth State dropped
its fourth straight game to fall to 3-8-1.
The Huskies wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as sophomore Josh
Giordani (Quincy, Mass.) found the net 47 seconds into the game off a feed from
junior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.). Just over a minute later, rookie Chris
Travis (Scituate, Mass.) made it 2-0 converting a feed from senior Chris Helms
(Sandwich, Mass.).
Senior Marc Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.) potted the Huskies third goal at
4:21, set up by Travis and freshman Tom Galiani (Lindenhurst, N.Y.). Helms
scored his first collegiate goal in 83 games at the 16:41 mark. The Huskies had
a 21-9 advantage in shots on goal in the period.
Plymouth State pocketed the only goal in the second period when senior Kyle
Allen (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drove home the rebound of a shot by freshman Chris
Chambers (Crofton, Md.).
Southern Maine put the game away in the final period on goals by sophomore
Ben Loss (Wilmette, Illinois.), Galiani and junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia).
USM senior forward Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) picked up two
assists in the third period to increase his career scoring total to 99 points
(48g, 51a). Carragher moved past Richard McSorley (1990-93) into second place
on the all-time scoring list.
Plymouth State freshman goalie Mick Fitzpatrick (Lancaster, N.Y.) made 17
saves in the first period before being replaced by classmate Erik Shields at the
start of the second period. Shields played the final 40 minutes and made 24
saves.
Southern Maine hits the road this weekend for road games at Wesleyan
University on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Trinity College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
Plymouth State will host the nation's number one ranked team, Manhattanville
College, on Friday (4:00 p.m.) at the Laconia (N.H.) Ice Arena.
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Plymouth State (3-8-1) 0 1 0 1
Southern Maine (6-4-0) 4 0 3 7
1st Period: 1. SM, Josh Giordani (Mike Stevens) 0:47; 2. SM, Chris Travis
(Chris Helms) 1:59; 3. SM, Marc Santuccio (Travis, Tom Galiani) 4:21; 4. SM,
Helms (Jake Berube) 16:41.
2nd Period: 5. PS, Kyle Allen (Chris Chambers, Derek Avakian) 10:34 (pp).
3rd Period: 6. SM, Ben Loss (Mark Carragher) 0:46; 7. Galiani (Stevens, Igor
Karlov) 12:24 (pp); 8. SM, Dane Marshall (Carragher), Bobby Siers) 13:24.
Goalies: PS, Mick Fitzpatrick (20:00, 21 shots, 17 saves), Erik Shields (40:00,
27-24) SM, David Beckles (22-21)
Power Play Opportunities: PS, 1 for 5 SM, 1 for 6
Shots On Goal: PS, 9-7-6 = 22 SM, 21-11-16 = 48
################################################################################
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Chris Sparkes Named ECAC East Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland)
of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's ice hockey team has been named
ECAC Men's East Player of the Week for the week of December 4-10, it was
announced Tuesday evening by the ECAC office in Centerville, Mass.
This is the first time in his four seasons with the Huskies that Sparkes
has received an ECAC weekly citation. Sparkes joins senior goalie David Beckles
(Stamford, Conn.), who has been named Goalie of the Week on two occasions, as
recipients of ECAC weekly honors this season.
In three games last week, Sparkes racked up six goals and two assists for
eight points to help the Huskies compiled a 2-1 mark.
The 6-foot-5 winger opened the week scoring a career-high, and school
record tying, four goals in a 5-3 win over Colby College. Sparkes had the game-
wining goal, and three of his goals came on the power play. The four-goal
effort tied the school record shared by Travis Bezio (versus Stonehill in
February 1992) and Franco Narcisi (versus Babson in January 2003).
Sparkes followed up with two goals and an assist in a 6-2 win over Salem
State College. The Huskies fell behind 2-0 before scoring six unanswered goals
to take the victory and move into sole possession of first place in the league
standings.
Sparkes added an assist in the Huskies' 3-2 non-league loss to Suffolk
University to close a stretch of three games in five days.
On the season, Sparkes has six goals and five assists for 11 points in nine
games. He ranks second on the team in all three categories, and is tied for the
team lead in power-play goals.
Southern Maine, 5-4-0 overall and 4-1-0 in ECAC East games, is off for
exams and the holidays until January 2 when it hosts Plymouth State University
in a non-league game at the USM Ice Arena.
################################################################################
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Suffolk Stuns Southern Maine 3-2
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior goalie Sean Bertoni (Franklin, Mass.) stopped 44
shots and the Suffolk University Rams used two third period power-play goals to
overcome a one-goal deficit and stunned the University of Southern Maine Huskies
3-2 in a non-league game Saturday night at the USM Ice Arena.
The win snapped the Rams' two-game losing skid and improved their overall
record to 2-8-1. The Huskies, who had a four-game winning streak stopped, fell
to 5-4-0 overall.
With the game tied at 1-1 heading into the third period, Southern Maine
gained the upper hand when senior Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) scored his
second goal of the night at 5:09 off an assist from sophomore Ben Loss
(Wilmette, Illinois).
The Rams got the equalizer at 12:00 when freshman Nick Davis (Pittsburgh,
Pa.) scored a power-play goal set up by sophomore John Rocchio (East Greenwich,
R.I.) and junior Josh Barboza (Fall River, Mass.).
Sophomore Mitch Sabo (Bell Canyon, Calif.) notched the game winner on the
power play less than two minutes later converting a pass from Rocchio.
Bertoni was brilliant in net for the Rams, particularly in the second
period when he held the Huskies scoreless despite seeing 19 shots.
In the first period, sophomore Scott Zanolli (Tracy, Calif.) gave the Rams
an early lead with a goal at 2:40. Carragher got the Huskies level at the 8:59
mark with a power-play goal.
Southern Maine junior goalie Tyler Ravlo (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia), making
his first start of the season, finished the game with 17 saves.
The Huskies are off until January 2 (7:00 pm.) when they will host Plymouth
State in a non-league game. Suffolk will participate in the Codfish Bowl at the
University of Massachusetts Boston on December 28-29.
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Suffolk (2-8-1) 1 0 2 3
Southern Maine (5-4-0) 1 0 1 2
1st Period: 1. Suf, Scott Zanolli (Tim Recio) 2:40; 2. SM, Mark Carragher
(Chris Travis, Chris Sparkes) 8:59 (pp).
2nd Period: no scoring.
3rd Period: 3. SM, Carragher (Loss) 5:09; 4. Suf, Nick Davis (John Rocchio,
Josh Barboza) 12:00 (pp); 5. Suf, Mitch Sabo (Rocchio) 13:58 (pp).
Goalies: Suf, Sean Bertoni (46 shots, 44 saves) SM, Tyler Ravlo (20-17)
Power Plays: Suf, 2 for 5 SM, 1 for 6
Shots on Goal: Suf, 9-5-6 = 20 SM, 15-19-12 = 46
################################################################################
Friday, December 8, 2006
Southern Maine Scores Six Unanswered Goals, Downs Salem State 6-2
SALEM, Mass. -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies fell behind 2-0
in the opening 11 minutes, then scored six unanswered goals to take a 6-2
victory over the Salem State College Vikings in an ECAC Men's East game Friday
night at Rockett Arena in Salem, Mass.
The win lifts the Huskies into sole possession of first place in the ECAC
East standings. The Huskies, winners of four straight games, are 5-3-0 overall
and 4-1-0 in the league. The Vikings dropped their fourth consecutive game to
slide to 2-5-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the league.
Leading the Southern Maine comeback were senior linemates Mark Carragher
(Charlottetown, PEI) and Chris Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland). Carragher
had four points on a goal and three assists while Sparkes, who had four goals
against Colby College on Tuesday night, scored twice and had an assist.
Salem State grabbed the early 2-0 lead on a short-handed goal by sophomore
Jeff Chillson (Enfield, Conn.) at 3:35, and a goal from freshman Aaron Blades
(Chino, Calif.) at 10:39.
Freshman Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) put Southern Maine on the board
before the end of the period with a power-play tally at 18:19, set up by
Carragher.
Sparkes tied the game in the opening minute of the second period off
assists from senior Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois) and Carragher. Rookie
forward Tom Galiani (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the game winner
on a power play 45 seconds after Sparkes' tying goal. Junior Dane Marshall
(Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) netted another power-play goal for the Huskies in the
final minute of the period, set up by Galiani and Travis, to make it 4-2.
Sparkes scored his second goal of the game at 6:06 of the third period with
Carragher and senior Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.) getting the assists.
Carragher closed the scoring when he lit the lamp with the Huskies' fourth
power-play goal of the game, assisted by Marshall and Sparkes, at 9:45.
Carragher's four-point night moved him into fourth place on the Huskies'
all-time scoring list, passing Keith Pomerleau (1988-92). Carragher now has 95
career points.
Senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) picked up his fourth win of the
season making 26 saves. Sophomore Ryan Hatch (Medway, Mass.) made 33 saves for
Salem State.
Southern Maine closes out its first semester schedule Saturday night (7:00
p.m.) when it hosts Suffolk University in a non-conference game at the USM Ice
Arena. Salem State will play a non-league game at Framingham State College on
Monday.
At Salem, Mass. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (5-3-0; 4-1-0) 1 3 2 6
Salem State (2-5-0; 1-4-0) 2 0 0 2
1st Period: 1. SS, Jeff Chillson (David Pazzaglia) 3:35 (sh); 2. SS, Aaron
Blades (Chris McInnis) 10:39; 3. SM, Chris Travis (Mark Carragher) 18:19 (pp).
2nd Period: 4. SM, Chris Sparkes (Bobby Siers, Carragher) 0:56; 5. SM, Tom
Galiani (Marc Santuccio, Brett Yancey) 1:41 (pp); 6. SM, Dane Marshall
(Galiani, Travis) 19:28 (pp).
3rd Period: 7. SM, Sparkes (Carragher, Yancey) 6:06; 8. SM, Carragher
(Sparkes, Marshall) 9:45 (pp).
Goalies: SM, David Beckles (28 shots, 26 saves) SS, Ryan Hatch (39-33)
Power Plays: SM, 4 for 12 SS, 0 for 8
Shots On Goal: SM, 13-12-14 = 39 SS, 11-10-7 = 28
################################################################################
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Beckles Named ECAC Men's East Goalie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- For the second time this season, senior goaltender David
Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's ice
hockey team has been named the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men's
East Goalie of the Week. The weekly awards for the week of November 27 through
December 3 were announced Tuesday afternoon by the ECAC office in Centerville,
Mass.
This is the third time in his career at USM that Beckles has received the
weekly honor. He received it previously in January 2006 and again the opening
week of this season.
In two games last week, Beckles posted a 1.11 goals against average with a
.957 save percentage.
Beckles backstopped the Huskies to their first-ever win over Middlebury
College stopping 19 shots in a 2-0 shutout. The shutout was the fourth of
Beckles' career, and set a new USM career mark for shutouts. The game was
called in the middle of the third period due to a power outage.
The next afternoon, the 6-foot-2 netminder made 25 saves on 27 shots to
post a 3-2 victory over Williams College. The two wins moved the Huskies into a
tie for first place in the ECAC East standings.
On the season, Beckles has appeared in six games, compiling a 2.76 goals
against average with a .906 save percentage and a 3-3-0 record. He has shutouts
over St. Michael's College in the season opener and Middlebury.
The Huskies, 4-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in league play, will travel to Salem
State College for an ECAC East game Friday night (7:00 p.m.) before closing out
their first semester schedule Saturday evening (7:00 p.m.) with a non-league
game at home against Suffolk University.
################################################################################
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Southern Maine Downs Colby 5-3 for Third Straight Win
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Chris Sparkes (St. John's Newfoundland) scored a
career high four goals to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 5-3
victory over the Colby College Mules in a non-conference game Tuesday night at
the USM Ice Arena.
The win was the third straight for the Huskies who improved to 4-3-0
overall. The Mules, winless in their last three games (0-2-1), dipped to 3-2-1
overall. The two teams will meet again on January 27 at Colby.
Freshman Mike Policinski (Shorewood, Minn.) scored the only goal of the
first period to give the visiting Mules a 1-0 lead. Junior Josh Reber (Edina,
Minn.) and freshman Jared Crittenden (Fairport, N.Y.) drew the assists.
Sparkes scored his first goal, set up by classmates Mark Carragher
(Charlottetown, PEI) and Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois), at 6:12 of the
second period while USM was on the power play to tied the game. Eight minutes
later, the 6-foot-5 winger scored an unassisted goal to put the Huskies in the
lead for good.
Southern Maine sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine) potted an unassisted
short-handed goal at 17:43 to make it 3-1. Colby junior T.J. Kelly (Ridgefield,
Conn.) scored on the same power play off an assist from senior Patrick
Rutherford (Truro, Nova Scotia) to make it 3-2 at 18:27.
Sparkes netted his third goal of the game 37 seconds into the final period
while the Huskies enjoyed the man advantage. Rookie forward Chris Travis
(Scituate, Mass.) picked up the only assist.
Rutherford scored a power-play at 2:10 to pull the Mules back within one,
but Sparkes iced the game with his fourth goal, third on the power play, at
17:21. Siers and senior Chris Helms (Sandwich, Mass.) got the helpers.
Sparkes had one previous career hat trick as part of a four-point game (3g,
1a) on November 20, 2004, against Wesleyan.
Southern Maine junior goalie Ryan Sullivan (Newton, Mass.), making his
first start of the season, finished with 31 saves. Senior Ben Grandjean
(Waterford, Conn.) had 29 saves for the Mules.
The Huskies travel to Salem State College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) for an ECAC
East game. The Mules travel to Bowdoin College for the first half of a weekend
home-and-home series on Friday (7:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Colby (3-2-1) 1 1 1 3
Southern Maine (4-3-0) 0 3 2 5
1st Period: 1. C, Mike Policinski (Josh Reber, Jared Crittenden) 15:58.
2nd Period: 2. SM, Chris Sparkes (Mark Carragher, Bobby Siers) 6:12 (pp); 3.
SM, Sparkes (unassisted) 14:23; 4. SM, Kyle Smith (unassisted) 17:43 (sh); 5.
C, T.J. Kelly (Patrick Rutherford) 18:27 (pp).
3rd Period: 6. SM, Sparkes (Chris Travis) 0:37 (pp); 7. C, Rutherford (Eric
Simmons, Ryan Chenek) 2:10 (pp); 8. SM, Sparkes (Chris Helms, Siers) 17:21
(pp).
Goalies: C, Ben Grandjean (59:04, 34 shots, 29 saves) SM, Ryan Sullivan
(60:00, 34-31)
Power Plays: C, 2 for 8 SM, 3 for 6
Shots On Goal: C, 11-10-13 = 34 SM, 9-7-18 = 34
################################################################################
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Southern Maine Downs Williams 3-2
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Mike Stevens' (Dover, N.H.) goal midway through
the third period proved to be the difference as the University of Southern Maine
Huskies defeated the Williams College Ephmen 3-2 Saturday afternoon in an ECAC
East-NESCAC inter-league game at the USM Ice Arena.
The win was the season straight for the Huskies who are now 3-3-0 overall
and 3-1-0 in the league games. Coupled with other results Saturday, the Huskies
moved into a first place tie with Skidmore College in the ECAC East standings.
Williams dropped to 2-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in league games.
After a scoreless first period, Williams grabbed a 1-0 lead at 3:27 of the
middle period when freshman Alex Smigelski (Mt. Lake, N.J.) scored his second
goal of the season off assists from senior Kevin Colwell (Wellesley, Mass.) and
sophomore Matt Dreiheim (Cota De Casa, Calif.).
Southern Maine responded with the game's next three goals. Freshman Tom
Galiani (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) tied the game with his second goal of the campaign
at 6:50 with senior Marc Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.) and freshman Igor Karlov
(Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) drawing the assists.
Senior captain Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) gave USM the lead with
his fourth goal of the season at 18:32, set up by classmates Chris Sparkes (St.
John's, Newfoundland) and Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois).
Stevens potted what proved to be the game winner at 12:51 of the third
period when he chipped the rebound of freshman Chris Travis' (Scituate, Mass.)
inside the near post shot over the shoulder Williams sophomore goalie Rick
Redmond (Winnetka, Illinois).
The Ephmen made things interesting down the stretch getting a power-play
goal from Colwell, set up by Dreiheim and sophomore Chris Fahey (Milton, Mass.)
with 4:55 remaining in regulation. The Ephmen were able to get the extra
attacker on for Redmond in the final 49 seconds, but were unable at get the
equalizer.
Redmond, who played a very strong game, finished with 36 saves, including
19 in the opening period. USM senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.)
made 25 stops.
Southern Maine returns to action Tuesday night (7:00 p.m.) for a non-league
against Colby College at the USM Ice Arena. Williams will host an exhibition
game against the US Under-18 Team on Friday (7:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Williams (2-4-0; 2-2-0) 0 1 1 2
Southern Maine (3-3-0; 3-1-0) 0 2 1 3
1st Period: no scoring.
2nd Period: 1. W, Alex Smigelski (Kevin Colwell, Matt Dreiheim) 3:27; 2. SM,
Tom Galiani (Marc Santuccio, Igor Karlov) 6:50; 3. SM, Mark Carragher (Chris
Sparkes, Bobby Siers) 18:32.
3rd Period: 4. SM, Mike Stevens (Chris Travis) 12:51; 5. W, Colwell (Dreiheim,
Chris Fahey) 15:05 (pp).
Goalies: W, Rick Redmond (59:11, 39 shots, 36 saves)
SM, David Beckles (59:52, 27-25).
Power-Play Opportunities: W, 1 for 4 SM, 0 for 6
Shots On Goal: W, 10-8-9 = 27 SM, 19-8-12 = 39
################################################################################
Friday, December 1, 2006
Southern Maine Defeats Middlebury 2-0
Game Stopped in Third Period by Power Outage
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) stopped 19
shots and the University of Southern Maine Huskies used a pair of power-play
goals to defeat the Middlebury College Panthers 2-0 in an ECAC East-NESCAC
inter-league game Friday night at the USM Ice Arena.
The game was halted at 8:01 of the third period when the power was knocked
out by a thunderstorm passing through the area. After a 30-minute delay, the
game was called and Southern Maine was declared the winner.
The decision snapped a three-game losing streak for the Huskies, and
improved their records to 2-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in league play. The Panthers,
ranked fourth in the nation in this week's USCHO.com Division III poll, dropped
to 3-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in league play.
Beckles, who picked up his second shutout of the season and the fourth of
his career, was particularly strong in the first period when Middlebury piled up
a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal.
The Huskies got the only goal in the opening period at 13:19 when junior
Mike Stevens' (Dover, N.H.) shot from the blue line was redirected by senior
Bobby Siers (Mt. Prospect, Illinois) past Middlebury sophomore goaltender Doug
Reader (Needham, Mass.) for his first goal of the season. Rookie Chris Travis
(Scituate, Mass.) also drew an assist.
Senior Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) added a man-advantage goal in
early in the second period set up by junior Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia) and senior Chris Helms (Sandwich, Mass.).
Reader finished the game with 14 saves.
Southern Maine returns to action Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts
Williams College. Middlebury will travel to Salem State College on Saturday
(3:00 p.m.).
At Gorham, Maine 1 2 3 Final
Middlebury (3-2-0; 2-1-0) 0 0 0 0
Southern Maine (2-3-0; 2-1-0) 1 1 0 2
1st Period: 1. SM, Bobby Siers (Mike Stevens, Chris Travis) 13:19 (pp).
2nd Period: 2. SM, Mark Carragher (Dane Marshall, Chris Helms) 5:45 (pp).
3rd Period: no scoring.
Goalies: M, Doug Reader (48:01, 16 shots, 14 saves) SM, David Beckles
(48:01, 19-19)
Power Play Opportunities: M, 0 for 3 SM, 2 for 6
Shots On Goal: M, 10-6-3 = 19 SM, 6-4-6 = 16
################################################################################
Sunday, November 26, 2006
(Courtesy of Babson College Sports Information)
Babson Rallies to Down Southern Maine 4-3
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Sophomore J.T. Balben (Wayland, Mass.) scored the
game-winning goal at 4:17 of the third period and first-year goalie Ryan Moses
(Bedford, N.Y.) made eight of his 16 saves in the final period to help the
Babson College Beavers claim a 4-3 victory over the University of Southern Maine
Huskies in the consolation game of the 2006 Babson Invitational Tournament
Sunday afternoon.
The win was the first of the year for Babson (1-3-0), while Southern Maine
(1-3-0) suffered its third straight defeat. The two teams will meet again at
Babson on January 20.
USM grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by junior Mike Stevens
(Dover, N.H.) and sophomore Eric Morgan (Reading, Mass.). Stevens also drew an
assist on the Morgani goal, and sophomore Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine) picked up
an assist on both goals.
Babson cut its deficit in half on a goal by sophomore Alex DiPietro
(Winthrop, Mass.) with six minutes left in the period.
The Beavers tied the game at 2-2 on a goal by sophomore Pat McCarthy
(Warwick, R.I.) at 8:49 of the second, but the Huskies regained the lead when
rookie Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) scored less than two minutes later with
Morgani and sophmore Josh Giordani (Quincy, Mass.) picking up the helpers.
Babson once again knotted the score when first-year Jason Schneider
(Littleton, Mass.) scored on the power play at 17:31 of the second. Schneider
also assisted Balben's eventual game-winner at 4:17 of the third.
Moses stopped 16 shots in the win for Babson, while senior David Beckles
(Stamford, Conn.) finished with 27 saves in net for USM.
Southern Maine returns to action on Friday (December 1) when it hosts
Middlebury College. Babson will entertain Wesleyan University on Friday. Both
games start at 7:00 p.m.
At Babson Park, Mass. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (1-3-0) 2 1 0 3
Babson (1-3-0) 1 2 1 4
1st Period: 1, SM, Mike Stevens (Tom Galiani, Kyle Smith) 9:01; 2. SM, Eric
Morgani (Stevens, Smith) 11:18; 3, B, Alex DiPietro (Brad Baldelli, Matt
Harrington) 13:52.
2nd Period: 4, B, Pat McCarthy (Pat McLaughlin, Ryan Ferguson) 8:49; 5. SM,
Chris Travis (Morgani, Josh Giordani) 10:44; 6. B, Jason Schneider (Mike Venit,
Matt Baron) 17:31 (pp).
3rd Period: 7, B, J.T. Balben (Schneider) 4:17.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles 1-3-0 (59:38 minutes, 31 shots-27 saves)
B, Ryan Moses 1-2-0 (60:00, 19-16).
Power plays: SM, 0 for 5; B, 1 for 7.
Shots on Goal: SM, 7-4-8 = 19 B, 12-12-7 = 31
################################################################################
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Nationally-Ranked Geneseo Rallies, Downs Southern Maine 6-3
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The nationally-ranked SUNY Geneseo Blue Knights
scored three times in a span of 66 seconds early in the third period to break a
tie game and went on to post a 6-3 victory over the University of Southern Maine
Huskies in an opening round game of the Babson College Invitational Tournament
Saturday afternoon.
The win puts the Blue Knights, ranked ninth in this week's USCHO.com
Division III poll, into Sunday's championship game (4:00 p.m.) against the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. UMD earned a spot in the final with a
7-2 win over Babson in the second game. The Huskies will play Babson in the
consolation game (1:00 p.m.).
The Blue Knights, winners in their last four games, improved to 8-2-0
overall. Southern Maine dropped its second straight game to a nationally-ranked
opponent to fall to 1-2-0. The game marked the first meeting between the two
schools.
Blue Knights' freshman forward Dan Brown (Lancaster, N.Y.) snapped a 3-3
tie with his second goal of the season at 3:52 of the third period, set up by
junior Mathieu Cyr (New Maryland, N.B.) and freshman Sebastian Panetta (Ottawa,
Ontario), to ignite the decisive outburst. Cyr made it a two-goal game 24
seconds with his fifth goal off assists from Brown and senior Tyson Terry
(Abbotsford, B.C.).
After the Huskies were assessed a minor penalty at 4:29, the Blue Knights
scored their third straight goal as junior Trent Cassan (Medora, Manitoba)
netted his second goal of the game at 4:58.
Southern Maine led 1-0 after one period as freshman Tom Galiani
(Lindenhurst, N.Y.) scored his first collegiate goal, assisted by senior captain
Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) and senior Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.), at
6:17.
Carragher made it 2-0 at 1:08 of the middle period before the Blue Knights
scored three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead.
Senior Mark Schwamberger (Spencerport, N.Y.) found the net at 5:44 to put
the Blue Knights on the board. Sophomore Casey Balog (Brockport, N.Y.) tied the
game 35 seconds later, and Cassan gave the Blue Knights their first lead, 3-2,
at 13:30 with his first goal.
The lead lasted just 1:19 as USM sophomore Josh Giordani (Quincy, Mass.)
lit the lamp with his first goal of the season, and the second period ended in a
3-3 tie.
Sophomore Jeff Pasemko (Redwater, Alberta) stopped 17 shots for Geneseo.
Senior David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) made 26 saves for the Huskies.
At Babson Park, Mass. 1 2 3 Final
Geneseo (8-2-0) 0 3 3 6
Southern Maine (1-2-0) 1 2 0 3
1st Period: 1. SM, Tom Galiani (Brett Yancey, Mark Carragher) 6:17 (pp).
2nd Period: 2. SM, Carragher (Kyle Smith, Chris Sparkes) 1:08; 3. G, Mark
Schwamberger (unassisted) 5:44; 4. G, Casey Balog ( Schwamberger, Phil Rose)
6:19; 5. G, Trent Cassan (Mitch Stephens, Mike MacDonald) 13:30; 6. SM, Josh
Giordani (Mike Stevens) 14:49.
3rd Period: 7. G, Dan Brown (Mathieu Cyr, Sebastian Panetta) 3:52; 8. G, Cyr
(Brown, Tyson Terry) 4:16; 9. G, Cassan (Chris Kestell, Stephens) 4:58 (pp).
Goalies: G, Jeff Pasemko (20 shots, 17 saves) SM, David Beckles (32-26)
Power Plays: G, 1 for 8 SM, 1 for 7
Shots on Goal: G, 10-11-11 = 32 SM, 6-8-6 = 20
################################################################################
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Beckles Named ECAC Men's East Goalie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- University of Southern Maine Huskies senior goaltender
David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) has been named the ECAC (Eastern College
Athletic Conference) Men's East Goalie of the Week for the opening week of the
2006-07 season. The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon by the ECAC office
in Centerville, Mass.
This is the second time in his career at USM that Beckles has received the
weekly honor. He received it previously in January 2006.
Beckles backstopped the Huskies to a season-opening, 4-0 victory over the
St. Michael's College Purple Knights, making 20 saves. The shutout was the
third of his career. The 6-foot-2 goalie also posted 37 saves in a 4-2 loss at
nationally-ranked Norwich University. After two games, Beckles has a 2.00 goals
against average and a .934 save percentage.
The win over St. Michael's was the Huskies first in a season opener since
they downed Johnson and Wales University to open the 1999-2000 campaign, and the
first on the road since defeating A.I.C. to start the 1997-1998 season. The
victory was just the fifth for the Huskies in 29 season-openers (5-23-1; 1972-
79, 1985-2006) dating back to 1972.
The Huskies will travel to the Babson College Invitational Tournament this
Saturday and Sunday. USM will face nationally-ranked SUNY-Geneseo in the first
round on Saturday (1:00 p.m.), and either Babson or the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth on Sunday (1:00 or 4:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Nationally Ranked Norwich Downs Southern Maine 4-2
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- Freshman Eric Tallent (Garland, Texas) and sophomore
Nikita Kashirsky (Moscow, Russia) each had a goal and an assist to lead the
nationally-ranked Norwich University Cadets to a 4-2 victory over the visiting
University of Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC Men's East game at Kreitzberg
Arena Saturday afternoon.
The win improved the Cadets' record to 2-0-0, and was their 12th straight
over the Huskies. The Cadets were ranked fifth in the nation in this week's
USCHO.com Division III poll. Southern Maine, which opened the season Friday
night with a 4-0 win over St. Michael's College, dips to 1-1-0.
Tallent set up the only goal of the first period as freshman Matt Johnson
(Lynn, Mass.) put the puck passed USM senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford,
Conn.) at 12:37 while the Cadets were on the power play.
Each team scored a pair of goals in the middle period. Junior Eric
Lauriault (Gatineau, Quebec) put the Cadets up 2-0 at 6:57. Southern Maine got
on the board at 14:47 when senior captain Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI)
lit the lamp with an unassisted goal. Tallent scored a power-play goal,
assisted by Kashirsky and junior Raphael Robitaille (Cap-Rouse, Quebec), at
17:12, but the Huskies answered back 80 seconds later with a power-play goal of
their own scored by junior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.).
Kashirsky gave the Cadets an insurance marker, coming on the power play off
an assist from Robitaille, at 10:05 of the third period. The Cadets finished
the game converting 3-of-8 power play opportunities while the Huskies were only
1-for-6 with the man advantage. The Cadets out-shot the Huskies 41-18.
Beckles finished the game with 37 saves for the Huskies. Freshman David
Thompson (Wainwright, Alberta) was credited with 16 saves for the Cadets.
Southern Maine will participate in the Babson College Invitational
tournament next Saturday and Sunday (November 25-26). USM will play SUNY-
Geneseo in the first round. Norwich will host the PrimeLink ShootOut next
Friday and Saturday. The Cadets will meet SUNY-Potsdam in the first round.
At Northfield, Vt. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (1-1-0) 0 2 0 2
Norwich (2-0-0) 1 2 1 4
1st Period: 1. N, Matt Johnson (Eric Tallent) 12:37.
2nd Period: 2. N, Eric Lauriault (Kim Koehler, Justin Wissman) 6:57; 3. SM,
Mark Carragher (unassisted) 14:47; 4. N, Tallent (Raphael Robitaille, Nikita
Kashirsky) 17:12 (pp); 5. SM, Mike Stevens (Marc Santuccio, Kyle Smith) 18:32
(pp).
3rd Period: 6. N, Kashirsky (Robitaille) 10:05.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles 1-1-0 (41 shots, 37 saves)
N, David Thompson 2-0-0 (18-16)
Power Play Opportunities: SM, 1 for 6 N, 3 for 8
Shots On Goal: SM, 6-6-6 = 18 N, 14-13-14 = 41
################################################################################
Friday, November 17, 2006
Southern Maine Blanks St. Michael's 4-0 in Season Opener
COLCHESTER, Vt. -- Senior goalie David Beckles (Stamford, Conn.) kicked
out all 20 shots he faced to backstop the University of Southern Maine Huskies
to a season-opening 4-0 victory over the St. Michael's College Purple Knights in
an ECAC Men's East game Friday night.
The win was the first in a season opener for the Huskies since Noember 19,
1999, when they defeated Johnson and Wales University, and snapped a streak of
six straight losses in the first game.
The Huskies staked Beckles to a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of play.
Freshman Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) scored what proved to be the game-
winning goal at 3:09 off assists from sophomores Josh Giordani (Quincy, Mass.)
and Ben Loss (Wilmette, Ill.). Just over a minute later, freshman Igor Karlov
(Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) made it 2-0 converting from senior Mark Carragher
(Charlottetown, PEI). Freshman Jordan Skinner (London, Ontario) added a short-
handed goal at 14:42 set up by senior Brett Yancey (Natick, Mass.) and
Carragher. Southern Maine piled up a 21-7 advantage in shots on goal in the
opening 20 minutes.
The only goal of the final two periods came at 3:31 of the second period as
sophomore Eric Morgani (Reading, Mass.) scored his first career goal.
Beckles had seven saves in each of the first two periods, and six more in
the final period to post his third career shutout.
Senior Derek Jackson (Clinton, N.Y.) played a strong game in goal for the
Purple Knight, finishing with 30 saves.
Southern Maine travels to Norwich University on Saturday (4:00 p.m.). The
Cadets opened their season Friday night with a 5-1 win over Salem State College.
St. Michael's will host Salem State on Saturday (3:00 p.m.)
At Colchester, Vt. 1 2 3 Final
Southern Maine (1-0-0) 3 1 0 4
St. Michael's (0-1-0) 0 0 0 0
1st Period: 1. SM, Chris Travis (Josh Giordani, Ben Loss) 3:09; 2. SM, Igor
Karlov (Mark Carragher) 4:33; 3. SM, Jordan Skinner (Brett Yancey, Carragher)
14:42 (sh).
2nd Period: 4. SM, Eric Morgani (Tom Galiani, Chris Sparkes) 14:42.
3rd Period: no scoring.
Goalies: SM, David Beckles 1-0-0 (20 shots, 20 saves) St. M, Derek Jackson
0-1-0 (34-30)
Power Play Opportunities: SM 0 for 9 St. M, 0 for 9
Shots On Goal: SM, 21-11-2 = 34 St. M, 7-7-6 = 20
################################################################################
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Mark Carragher Named USM Men's Hockey Captain
Marshall, Siers, Sparkes Named Assistant Captains
GORHAM, Maine -- University of Southern Maine senior forward Mark
Carragher (Charlottetown, PEI) has been named captain of men's ice hockey team
for the 2006-07 season, it was announced this week by veteran head coach Jeff
Beaney.
Beaney also announced that junior defenseman Dane Marshall (Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia) and senior forwards Bobby Siers (Mount Prospect, Illinois) and Chris
Sparkes (St. John's, Newfoundland) would serve as assistant captains this
season.
The Huskies open their 2006-07 season this Friday and Saturday with a two-
game road trip to St. Michael's College and Norwich University. The Huskies
will take on St. Michael's in the season opener Friday night (7:00 p.m.), then
play nationally-ranked Norwich Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m.).
"We have some strong senior leadership this year. These players have had a
winning program the past few years, and they are very determined to take the
program to the next level. All set a great example by their hard work, and are
a good complement to each other," commented Beaney, who is in his 20th season
behind the Huskies' bench.
The Huskies' leading scorer last season, Carragher was named to the All-
ECAC Men's East second team. The 5-foot-8 forward scored 18 goals and passed
off 15 assists for 33 points in 27 games. He had seven power-play goals, two
short-handed goals and two game-winning goals. Carragher was named the league's
Player of the Week on one occasion, and earned a spot on the All-Academic team.
In his three seasons with the Huskies, Carragher has scored 41 goals and
been credited with 42 assists for 83 points. He is fifth on the school's all-
time goal scoring list, tied for 11th in assist and seventh in points scored.
"Mark is one of the better players in the league. He has strong leadership
skills and is a very smart player who's improved every year he's been here,"
replied Beaney about his captain.
Marshall, also an All-ECAC Men's East second team selection, had three
goals and a team-leading 17 assists in 27 games last season. In 54 career
games, Marshall has four goals and 34 assists for 38 points.
"Dane is one of the premier defenseman in the league. He's well thought of
by the other players on the team, and he brings a consistency to the game day
after day. He's got great composure on the ice," added Beaney.
Siers, who is wearing an "A" for the second time, had two goals and five
assists in 24 games during the 2005-06 season. In three seasons, Siers has
played in 75 games garnering 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points.
"(Siers) sets the tempo for us. He is in great condition. He understands
his role and a lot of the other players relate well to him," commented Beaney.
Sparkes, also in his second term as an assistant captain, had eight goals,
including four power-play goals and one game winner, and 13 assists for 21
points in 24 games last season. Over the previous three seasons, Sparkes has
scored 24 goals and passed out 32 assists for 56 points in 61 games. He has 10
career power-play goals.
"(Sparkes) is the more vocal leader of the group. He gets the guys going,
whether its in practice or a game, and even when he was out of the lineup with
an injury," said Beaney.
After this weekend's trip to St. Michael's and Norwich, the Huskies will go
to Babson College on November 25-26 for the Babson Invitational Tournament. USM
will play SUNY-Geneseo in the first round (1:00 p.m.) and either Babson or the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the finals (4:00 p.m.) or consolation
game (1:00 p.m.) the next day.
Southern Maine returns to the USM Ice Arena for its home opener December 1
(7:00 p.m.) against three-time defending national champion Middlebury College
for the first of three straight home games. Williams College comes to USM on
December 2 (3:00 p.m.), and Colby College closes the homestand with a non-league
encounter on December 5 (7:00 p.m.). The Huskies will close out the first
semester portion of their schedule with a road game at Salem State College on
December 8 (7:00 p.m.) and a home non-league tilt with Suffolk University on
December 9 (7:00 p.m.).
After end-of-the-semester exams and the holidays, the Huskies will
entertain Plymouth State University for a non-league game on January 2 (7:00
p.m.). The Huskies return to league play on January 5-6 with a road trip to
Wesleyan University (7:00 p.m.) and Trinity College (3:00 p.m.).
The Huskies return home for games against non-league foe Framingham State
College on January 9 (7:00 p.m.), Hamilton College on January 12 (7:00 p.m.) and
Amherst College on January 13 (3:00 p.m.). USM will end the month of January
with four league games on the road. The Huskies will be at the University of
Massachusetts Boston on January 19 (7:00 p.m.), Babson on January 20 (4:00
p.m.), Bowdoin College on January 26 (7:00 p.m.) and Colby on January 27 (4:00
p.m.).
Southern Maine will play four of its final six games at home in February.
Castleton State College comes to USM on February 2 (7:00 p.m.) and Skidmore
College will be in town on February 3 (3:00 p.m.). USM makes its final regular
season road trip the next weekend traveling to Connecticut College on February 9
(4:00 p.m.) and Tufts University on February 10 (4:00 p.m.). The final weekend
brings Saint Anselm College to USM on February 16 (7:00 p.m.) and New England
College on February 17 (3:00 p.m.).
The first round of the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Men's
East playoffs will be played February 24 with the first winners advancing to the
semifinals and championship game on March 3-4. The winner of the tournament
receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Championship
tournament.
################################################################################
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
(Courtesy of the Eastern College Athletic Conference)
NORWICH TOPS 2006-07 PRESEASON POLL
CAPE COD, Mass. -- Norwich University has been chosen by the coaches of
the ECAC Men's East Hockey League as the top team in the 2006-07 preseason poll.
After going 15-2-2 in conference play and 22-5-2 overall last season, the Cadets
look to repeat as the perennial regular season champion.
Receiving one first place vote, and finishing second was Babson College.
The Beavers are coming off of a 14-5-0 ECAC East record, and went 17-10-0
overall.
Finishing just one vote behind Babson is the New England College Pilgrims,
who finished 2005-06 with an 11-5-3 league record and a 19-6-3 final mark.
Saint Anselm College is expected to finish in fourth place, backed by last
season's 11-6-2 ECAC East and 17-8-2 overall record.
The University of Southern Maine, who finished 9-8-2 against division
opponents last season was chosen to finish fifth, while Salem State rounds out
the top six, each of whom were slated to finish in the same position as last
season.
In seventh place is Skidmore College, who finished two votes ahead of Saint
Michael's College. The Purple Knights edged out Castleton State by a pair of
votes, who was chosen ninth, ahead of the UMass-Boston Beacons, who have been
expected to place tenth in the highly competitive league.
The 2006-07 campaign will start this weekend, as all ten ECAC East programs
will face-off on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
2006-07 Division III East Coaches' Poll
Rk Team (1st place votes) Pts
1. Norwich (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
2. Babson (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
3. New England . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4. Saint Anselm . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
5. Southern Maine . . . . . . . . . . . .60
6. Salem State . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7. Skidmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8. Saint Michael's . . . . . . . . . . . 31
9. Castleton State . . . . . . . . . . . 29
10. UMass-Bosto |