THE BASICS

-Score: Assumption University 5, Stonehill College 2 

-Records: Assumption University (15-12-2) Stonehill College (7-19-2)

-Location: Worcester, Mass.  (Worcester Ice Arena)

-The Lead: The number three seeded Assumption University men's ice hockey team continued their playoff run on Tuesday evening with a hard fought battle in the semi finals versus the seventh seeded Skyhawks of Stonehill College. The first period was evenly matched with no scoring, but in the second the Hounds came alive and buried four goals, including two on the powerplay. Stonehill tried to mount a late comeback but the Hounds added an empty net goal and punched their ticket to the NE10 finals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The first period saw Assumption outshoot Stonehill 14-7 but both teams tried to find their footing in the game and went into the locker room with the score even at 0-0.

-Stonehill had the opportunity to take just one minute into the second period when captain Charles Page was 1on1 with David Altman (Bristol, R.I. / Northern Cyclones) but was tripped from behind and awarded a penalty shot. Page skated down and faked to his right and seemed to have Altman beat on his forehand and put the puck on net but Altman stuck his skate out and caught just enough of the puck to keep it out of the net and keep the game tied at 0-0. 

-The quarter final hero for the Hounds, Robert Holyoke (Middleboro, Mass. / South Shore Kings) opened the scoring minutes later on the powerplay for the Hounds when Devan Sheth (Ashland, Mass. / Islanders Hockey Club) had the puck at the top of the circle and slid it to Dante Maribito (Georgetown, Mass. / Phillips Academy) who fired the puck through traffic and Holyoke was able to deflect the shot past goaltender John Day and give the Hounds the 1-0 lead. 

-The Hounds penalty kill unit went to work and killed off a major and a minor back to back with Altman saving six shots in that span of seven minutes shorthanded.

-Christopher Stalmok (Paxton, Mass. / Boston Junior Bruins) doubled the Hounds lead shortly after the penalty kill when he buried a rebound goal to give Assumption a 2-0 lead.

-The Hounds powerplay got their second goal of the night again created on a point shot from Maribito that was deflected on its way in and in the back of the net by Dara Conneely (Arlington, Mass. / Phillips Andover Academy) 

-Maribito scored the next goal for the Hounds in the dying seconds of the second period on a scramble in front of the net and he picked up the loose puck and fired a shot past Day to put Assumption up 4-0. 

-Stonehill got on the board halfway through the third when Mike Seoane scored his own rebound to make it 4-1.

-Stonehill added another goal with time winding down in the third after pulling the goalie allowing them to skate 6 on 5.  Charles Page scored a rebound goal after the initial shot from Josh Loveridge off the faceoff rang the post, Page was right there to poke the rebound in to make the score 4-2. 

-Stalmok added his second of the game after he picked up the puck in the Hounds defensive zone and fired it down ice on the empty net and in to create the 5-2 final. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

- The Hounds outshot the Skyhawks 32-27. 

-Stonehill won the faceoff battle 40-32.

-The Hounds penalty kill went 7-7 on the night.

-David Altman made 25 saves in net.

UP NEXT  

-The Hounds will host the championship game of the NE10 playoffs versus fourth seeded Post on Saturday, March 5th. Puck drop is set for 6:00pm.   

STAY CONNECTED

-For the latest on Assumption University Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.