Third Period Comeback Falls Short As Hofstra Gets By STAC, 3-2.

Third Period Comeback Falls Short As Hofstra Gets By STAC, 3-2.

The St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey team saw their attempt at a third period comeback fall short, as the Spartans dropped a 3-2 decision to Hofstra University on Friday night at Sport-O-Rama.

In the first period, both teams played a mostly conservative opening frame, trying to get a feel for each other's game and that resulted in a scoreless tie after twenty minutes.

Hofstra University came out of the intermission break with a quick barrage of shots on Spartan netminder Carl Lorenz, and were able to get themselves on the board 3:19 into the middle stanza, as Andrew Gagnon scored his second of the season, giving the Pride a 1-0 lead. Joseph Grice then picked up his second of the season in the later stages of the period, closing out the scoring in the second and doubling the Hofstra lead over STAC at 2-0.

The third period saw St. Thomas Aquinas return the favor, as STAC peppered Hofstra Pride goaltender Liam Hartenstein early and often. Douglas Harrison got the maroon and gold on the board with 11:41 remaining, tallying his third of the season on a beautiful pass from Patrick Burns, and cutting the Hofstra lead to 2-1. However, just thirty three seconds later, the Pride would regain their two-goal advantage on a Brandon Fauci goal, his second of the year. STAC would pull Lorenz for an extra attacker with two minutes left and Shaun Benson took advantage of having the extra skater, as he was able to take the puck and put it upstairs and inside the net behind Hartenstein to make it a 3-2 game. The pressure was on in the final minute, as St. Thomas Aquinas was able to garner a two-man advantage by virtue of a late Hofstra penalty and the extra attacker. Unfortunately, time was not on the side of the Spartans, as Hofstra was able to control the puck and skate away with the victory.

Spartan Goalie Carl Lorenz (L, 1-3) stopped 39 of 42 shots faced.

Shots on goal for the game were 36 for St. Thomas Aquinas and 42 for Hofstra.

St. Thomas Aquinas College will next be in action on Sunday, October 21, when the Spartans faceoff with East Stroudsburg University at the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, PA. Puck drop is scheduled for 4pm.