South Burlington, VT - The Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey team (5-14-3, 3-11-3 ECAC East, 2-1-1 N E-10) staged a second-period comeback against Castleton State College (9-9-5, 7-7-3 ECAC East) at Cairns Arena on Saturday to win 4-3.
For Saint Michael's, freshman Alex Davidson (South Burlington, Vt./Saint Paul's School) scored the first two goals of the game, followed up by junior Fran Briand (South Burlington, Vt./Loomis Chafee School) on a breakaway in the second frame. Freshman Josh Geary (Wellesley, Mass./Phillips Andover Academy) tallied the winning goal at the end of the second period. Freshman net minder Mike Dizgun (Kirkland, Quebec/OCN Blizzard) recorded 40 saves in net.
For the Spartans, freshman Brett Zeggil (Pricevill, Ontario) was open for a goal midway through the first period, followed by junior Omar Pacha (Boucherville, Quebec) from the blue line. Freshman Justin Alonzo (San Jose, Calif.) scored a wrap-around goal on play from freshman Josh Harris (Torrance, Calif.) and senior Kirk Bolduc (Lewiston, Maine). Freshman net minder Arthur Hollinger (Homer Glen, Ill.) set aside 13 shots on goal for the Spartans.
Saint Michael's took an early lead on a power play goal in the first two minutes of play when juniors Matt Rigtrup (Upper Montclair, N.J./Pickering Panthers) and Glenn Belmore (Cornwall, Ontario/Wellington Dukes/University of Maine) connected to set up Davidson in front of the net. Alonzo and freshman Brenden Beer (South Windsor, Conn.) found Zeggil unmarked on a drive to the net and set him up for the tying goal. Pacha followed up to give the Spartans the lead, assisted by Bolduc and junior Stuart Stefan (Simcoe, Ontario). Alonzo put the Purple Knights at a two-goal deficit, wrapping around the net and sliding the puck in the weak side pocket.
Davidson closed the gap for the Purple Knights midway through the second frame, receiving a puck from Belmore and taking advantage of the Spartan's goalie effectively being screened by Geary. Briand tied the game with a quick turnover from the Spartans, catching to the puck just in front of their goal and with a quick deke, put it in the back of the net. With less than a minute remaining in the second period, Geary redirected a puck off a Spartan's skate to give the Purple Knights the lead, assisted by Davidson and senior Tim Geverd (Horsham, Pa./N.H. Junior Monarchs/University of Vermont). Dizgun made 17 saves to keep the Spartans scoreless for the period.
The Spartans had 15 shots on goal over the final 20 minutes, but were unable to penetrate the Purple Knights defense.
The Purple Knights will hit the road next weekend, competing with Tufts University on Friday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Connecticut College the following afternoon for a 3 p.m. contest.
Castleton will return home for its final two games of the regular season, hosting Williams Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Middlebury Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Courtesy of: St. Michael's Sports Information
