BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 21, 2025) – The Stonehill College men's hockey team dropped a hard-fought battle on home ice, 3-1, to familiar NCAA Division I Independent foe Long Island University Friday night. With the loss, the Skyhawks fell to 11-22 overall, while the Sharks improved to 18-11-2 on the year.

Highlights

• Junior captain Frank Ireland scored the Skyhawks' lone goal, marking his fifth of the season.
• Sophomore JJ Grainda increased his point-scoring streak to three-games after registering an assist on Ireland's power-play goal in the second period.
• Junior Evan Orr and senior Cameron Gaudette each posted a game-high four blocked shots.
• Graduate goaltender Connor Androlewicz tallied 25 saves in between he pipes for Stonehill.
• Graduate student Connor Gregga, senior Isaiah Fox, and junior Josh Zary fueled the Sharks offensive output, each registering goals on the night.
• Sophomore netminder Noah Rupprecht picked up his 11th win of the season in goal after holding the Skyhawks to one goal on 22 shots faced.

How It Happened
Stonehill and LIU engaged in a defensive battle during the opening frame, as the two teams combined for just nine shots on goal throughout the first 20 minutes of play. With the game tied 0-0 at the first intermission, the Sharks applied consistent offensive pressure in the early stages of the second period, outshooting the Skyhawks 13-0 in the first five minutes.
 
Despite being outshot in the opening minutes of the middle frame, Stonehill struck first at 11:51. Following a rebound off a shot by Grainda, Ireland managed to bat the puck out of midair and into the net, giving the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead. However, just 17 seconds later, LIU responded to level the score at 1-1 when Zary scored his ninth goal of the season, assisted by junior Cade Mason and freshman Luca Leighton.
 
Early in the third period, a flurry of penalties on both sides led to the Sharks' fourth power-play opportunity of the game. Despite starting the final frame a skater down, Stonehill's penalty kill unit held strong, keeping the score tied at 1-1. However, at the 7:33 mark, a deflection in front of the net got past Stonehill's Androlewicz, giving LIU its first lead of the game at 2-1.
 
One minute later, at 8:33, Gregga capitalized on a penalty shot, netting his fourth goal of the season and extending the Sharks' lead to 3-1. Despite drawing a five-minute major penalty and pulling the goalie in the final minutes of regulation, the Skyhawks could not close the gap, and Stonehill ultimately fell by a final score of 3-1.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (11-22-0) will wrap up its 2024-25 campaign tomorrow night inside the Bridgewater Ice Arena against Long Island University. Puck drop between the Skyhawks and Sharks is set for 5 PM.
 
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