The University of Rhode Island men’s hockey team fell in two weekend games against the Stony Brook Seawolves, 6-3 and 4-2, moving the Rams to 4-3-1 on the season.
Both the Seawolves and the Rams came into the game in the top 25 of the ACHA. The Rams were No. 21 and the Seawolves came in ranked No. 8.
On Friday night the Rams hung in for two periods, only being down 3-2 with goals coming from junior Nate Bastian and freshman Ben Mello. Both their second goals of the season.
However in the beginning of the third, Stony Brook rocketed out with two goals in the first two minutes of the period, coming from Ian Bernes and Joey Slevin. Bernes would again go on to score on a power play with just under 10 minutes to go in the game to make it 6-2. With three and change to go in the game URI sophomore Christopher Mayer added a goal, his first of the year, to make it 6-3. Stony Brook took advantage of the power play Friday night, going two for three on the night, including the first goal of the game.
In the second game of the weekend, late Saturday afternoon, the Rams came out fast by way of a goal from junior Filip Akermark, his second of the season, just one minute and fifteen seconds into the game. However, Stony Brook was able to tie the game of a power play goal with only 26 seconds remaining in the first period.
In the second period it was Stony Brook’s turn to come out fast, scoring a goal just 38 seconds into the frame. Just under three minutes after a URI penalty led to another Stony Brook power play goal, which they would go 2-4 on the night. Two more Seawolves goals after that resulted in a 4-1 lead for Stony Brook going into the third period. With 3:55 left in the game URI Freshman Patrick Creamer tallied a goal, his second of the year, to make it 4-2.
The Rams were missing six players due to injury this weekend. Among them was leading point getter sophomore Jonathan Alsfeld, who had tallied eight goals prior to the injury. “It’s time for the young guys to step up and perform,” Rams head coach Joe Augustine said.
The outlying problem on the weekend for the Rams was the penalty kill. Seven power plays were given up to Stony Brook who in turn converted on four. “When you make a bad mistake, they’re gonna score,” Augustine said. “The penalty kill can get better, but give them the credit.” The Rams also tallied 26 total penalty minutes. The Rams power play itself also struggled, going 0-8 on the weekend.
Rhody now looks forward to next weekend, with two games against No. 13 ranked Liberty University taking place at Boss Ice Arena, Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.