MARLBOROUGH, Mass.—The Assumption University Men's Ice Hockey team shutout the Post University 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon in the New England Sports Center. Thomas McLarnon racked up 30 saves to help the Greyhounds advance to the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinal this Saturday.
 
THE BASICS
Assumption University 3, Post University 0
Records: Greyhounds (13-18-0, 9-11-0 NE10), Eagles (11-16-0, 9-11-0 NE10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Assumption led the NE10 in power play goals in the regular season with 24. They scored their 25^th on the year 7:47 into the action to take the lead. Patrick McKiernan snapped off a shot from the point that Dean Simeone redirected to beat Eagles' goalie Ben Cunneen. It would prove to be the game winning goal, but there was plenty of hockey left to play. The first period closed with Assumption in front 1-0.
 
The second period came and went without any goals. Both goalies were up to the task of making ten saves in the period. Thomas McLarnon for the Greyhounds was putting together a solid game, totaling 19 saves heading into the final period. All game long the Greyhounds' aggressive defense pushed the Eagles to the edges of the rink and limited their chances through the middle.
 
In the final period, Post began to take more chances. They fired off seven shots in the first five minutes of the frame. Assumption took a hooking penalty with 14:20 left after an exhausting defensive shift. Shane McElhaney and John Woernle combined for six blocked shots at this point. McKiernan, Sean Corliss, and Ryan Decker combined for six more. McLarnon shut down the Eagles power play and the Greyhounds responded with an insurance goal set up by Leo Piandes and Ronny Paragallo at the side of the net, buried in front by Daniel Lemanski. 
 
Assumption struck for the third time after Thomas McGaffigan made a hustle play through the neutral zone and worked below the goal-line with Declan Chapman to feed one out front for Sean Donoghue to score. With 4:01 left in regulation, the Greyhounds committed a 5-minute penalty for a facemask. The Eagles threatened to be up two men for the remainder of the game when they began the power play with their goalie pulled. Just 70 seconds later, the Eagles committed a 5-minute penalty for kicking, and seconds after, they were guilty of a minor penalty for tripping. The Hounds closed out the game on a 4-on-3 power play.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Thomas McLarnon's shutout was the second of his career and his first against an NE10 opponent.
• Assumption outshot Post 35-30.
• The Greyhounds were dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 48-of-68.
• No player scored two points. Eight Greyhounds contributed to the team's three goals.
• With the win, Head Coach Michael Looney recorded his 100^th career win. 
• Assumption leads the all-time series against Post 22-5-1.

UP NEXT

• Assumption at Saint Anselm, Saturday, February 22, 4:00 pm. – NE10 Semifinals

 
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