BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (November 1, 2024) – The Stonehill College men's hockey team made history Friday night, securing its first NCAA Division I shutout against Saint Lawrence. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 3-5 overall, while the Saint fell to 4-5 on the season.

Highlights

• Stonehill's shutout marked their first clean sheet against an NCAA Division I opponent and the first for the Skyhawks since January 7, 2019, against Johnson & Wales University.
• Sophomore JJ Grainda and freshman Zach Nicolas each registered two points for Stonehill. Grainda dished out a pair of assists, while Nicolas scored a goal and dished out an assist on the night.
• Sophomore Anthony Galante netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season, while classmates Dominick Campione and Charlie Banquier lit the lamp on their first goals of the year.
• Senior Cam Mannion posted a team-high three blocked shots for the Skyhawks.
• Graduate netminder Connor Androlewicz earned his first collegiate shutout after stopping all 24 shots he faced in between the pipes.
• Senior Tomáš Mazura tallied a team-high four shots on goal for the Saints.
• Graduate goaltender Dominic Basse registered 37 saves inside the crease for Saint Lawrence.

How It Happened
Stonehill wasted no time getting the scoring started, as just 13 seconds into the contest, the Skyhawks would light the lamp for their first goal of the game. After Nicolas won the opening faceoff, Grainda gained entry into the offensive zone and sent a cross-ice pass to freshman Cole Melady. Melady would rifle a one-time shot towards the net where Nicolas would be in front to redirect the shot into the back of the cage for his second career goal.
 
Despite outshooting Saint Lawrence 22-16 over the remainder of the opening frame, Basse would keep the Skyhawks off the board to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of Stonehill heading into the first intermission.
 
Coming out of the break, the Stonehill penalty kill unit would be called into action at the 4:02 mark of the second period. However, the Saints were unable to break through and find the back of the net as Androlewicz and the Skyhawks defenders stood tall on their defensive end of the ice. Just three minutes at the conclusion of the Saint Lawrence power-play opportunity, Stonehill would regain its early offensive momentum, netting its second goal of the matchup midway through the second.
 
After forcing a turnover in the neutral zone, Grainda sent a lead pass to Nicolas, who found Campione on the break. Campione deked past his defenders and sent a shot into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
 
Heading into the third and final frame of regulation, which is still led by two, the Skyhawks would look to gain a sense of breathing room for their defense and Androlewicz. However, Saint Lawrence would stifle Stonehill's 13 shot attempts throughout the opening 15 minutes of action in the third to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of the Skyhawks.
 
Despite the Saints keeping the game within striking distance, Stonehill tacked on its two-goal advantage and sealed the 4-0 shutout victory with a pair of empty-net goals from Galante and Banquier at the 16:25 and 18:15 marks, respectively.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (3-5-0) returns to action on Sunday, traveling to Hanover, New Hampshire to take on Dartmouth College. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Big Green is set for 3 PM inside Thompson Arena.
 
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