PIONEERS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO FIVE
By: Lauren McQuillan, Howlings
FAIRFIELD, CT—The Sacred Heart University Pioneers continued their red-hot play, extending their winning streak to five straight by knocking off the visiting 3-2 in front of 2,910 at the Martire Family Arena on Friday night.
SHU (7-5-1, 6-3-0 AHA) found the back of the net first at 14:59 and never looked back. Charles Tardiff snuck behind the Tigers’ net and sent the puck to Reid Pabich, who went towards the corner, created space in the left-wing circle, and wristed a shot past Trent Burnham for his fourth of the season.
The Pioneers were outshot 12-8 by the Tigers in the first period but went to the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second period was all about the penalty kill for the Pioneers. They had to kill off a penalty at 4:04 by Gabe Blanchard. Then, just after killing that penalty, they took another as Jeremi Tremblay went to the sin bin for High Sticking at 6:49. SHU Head Coach C.J. Marottolo could not have been pleased when Charles Tardiff made it three straight penalty kills at 10:11 for a Hit from Behind. To their credit, the Pioneers came away unscathed, used it to turn the game’s momentum their way, and potted two goals in 90 seconds.
At 16:01, senior forward Daniel Ebrahim scored his second goal of the season after picking up the denied shot of Cole Galatta’s shot. Marcus Joughin set up the entire play to earn the secondary assist.
Just 90 ticks later, another senior, Hunter Sansbury, scored. Tardiff set him up when he collided with Tigers defender Douglas Scott and left the puck for Sansbury, who scored. Tremblay earned the secondary apple on the play and made it 3-0.
The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard with just under two minutes remaining in the second frame.
Sophomore Tyler Fukakusa put the puck in the twine past Ajeet Gundarah (27 saves) with assists from Kevin Scott and Matthew Wilde with just 1:52 left in the second period with the Tigers’ first goal of the game.
The Tigers would score the only goal of the third period. Sophomore Christian Catalano made it a one-goal game at 3-2 after weaving through the Pioneers’ defense. Fukakusa and Wilde earned the helpers on the goal at 10:50.
The Pioneers ended their four-game home streak and hit the road to play the Holy Cross Crusaders in Worcester, MA, on Friday, November 29th, and Saturday, November 30th. The puck drops at 7 p.m. in both games.
