FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 18, 2025) – The Stonehill College men's hockey team earned a statement 3-2 victory over Sacred Heart University on Saturday night, marking its first win of the season against a Pioneers team receiving national poll recognition.
 
Highlights

• Senior Frankie Ireland, skating in his 100th career game, netted the eventual game-winning goal — his first of the season — while shorthanded in the second period.
• Juniors JJ Grainda and Brady Hunter each recorded their first goals of the season.
• Sophomores Joel Lehtinen, Justin Mexico, and Leo Chambers, along with junior Charlie Banquier and graduate student Evan Orr, all added assists for the Skyhawks.
• Graduate goaltender Connor Androlewicz earned his first win of the season, turning aside 39 of 41 shots in net.
• For Sacred Heart, Cole Galata and Reid Pabich scored the team's two goals, while Teagan Kendrick made his first start of the season and finished with 28 saves.

 
How It Happened
After an early power-play chance went by the wayside, Stonehill struck quickly, scoring twice in just 19 seconds to take control of the game. At 5:56 of the first period, Chambers carried the puck down the boards to Lehtinen behind the cage, who fed Grainda in front for his first goal of the season. Just 19 seconds later, Orr sent a shot around the glass to Banquier, whose rebound in front of the net was pounced on by Hunter for his first goal of the campaign, giving Stonehill an early 2-0 lead.

Sacred Heart cut the deficit to one at 14:57 of the opening frame when Pabich scored on the power play, sending the teams to the first intermission with Stonehill leading 2-1.

Despite being outshot 16-10 and facing three power-play opportunities, the Skyhawks' defense held firm. Late in the second period, Mexico and Ireland broke in on a two-on-one, with Ireland chipping a shorthanded redirect into the net to extend Stonehill's lead to 3-1.

In the third period, Sacred Heart narrowed the margin when Galata fired a loose puck past Androlewicz in net, bringing the score to 3-2. The Pioneers pulled their goalie in the final moments to try for the equalizer, but Stonehill's defense and Androlewicz held strong, securing the Skyhawks' first win of the season.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (1-4-0) returns to action next weekend, traveling to University Park, Pennsylvania, for a two-game series against Penn State. The weekend opener is set for Friday, October 24, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. between the Skyhawks and the Nittany Lions.

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