DULUTH, Minn. (October 26, 2024) – The Stonehill College men's hockey came up short, dropping a narrow 2-1 decision on the road to Minnesota-Duluth Saturday night. With the loss, the Skyhawks fell to 2-5 overall, while the Bulldogs improved to 3-4 on the season.

Highlights

• Freshman defender Justin Gibson lit the lamp on his first career goal for Stonehill.
• Senior Kyle Heath and sophomore Anthony Galante registered assists on Gibson's first career goal.
• Senior Devlin O'Brien tallied a team-high three blocked shots on the day for the Skyhawks.
• Freshman netminder Linards Lipskis made his second career appearance in between the pipes for Stonehill and made 35 saves on the night.
• Senior Dominic James recorded his second consecutive two-goal game for the Bulldogs.
• Senior Owen Gallatin dished out two assists on the night, while freshman Zam Plante and sophomore Aaron Pionk added helpers of their own.
• Freshman goaltender Adam Gajan earned his third career win inside the crease for Minnesota-Duluth after stopping 14 of his 15 shots faced on the night.

How It Happened
Stonehill would head on the two-skater advantage early in the opening frame. However, the Bulldogs' defense would hold tough on their defensive end of the ice, not allowing a shot on goal for the Skyhawks in the two-minute five-on-three opportunity.
 
At the 17:28 mark of the first period, Minnesota-Duluth would break through and get a shot past Lipskis, who had stopped his first 11 shots faced on the net, when James lit the lamp on his first goal of the night and sixth of the season.
 
After the second intermission, the Bulldogs would continue their offensive momentum, peppering Stonehill with 12 shot attempts over the first seven minutes of play in the middle period. Just under midway into the second, Minnesota-Duluth would head on the power-play and waste little time finding the back of the net and doubling its advantage. Less than 30 seconds into the skater advantage, James would deflect a shot into the back of the cage for his second goal of the game, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
 
Stonehill, looking to mount a comeback in the final frame of regulation, would cut into its two-goal deficit at the 12:29 mark of the third when Gibson rifled a shot into the back of the net for his first career goal off assists from Heath and Galante. However, the Minnesota-Duluth proved too much for the Skyhawks to overcome, as, despite the final second shot attempts from junior Evan Orr and sophomore Dominick Campione, the Bulldogs' defense and Gajan would hold on for the narrow 2-1 win.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (2-5-0) returns home to the Bridgewater Ice Arena on Friday, November 1, hosting Saint Lawrence University. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Saints is set for 7 PM.     
 
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