Monsey, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey team suffered its second straight defeat on Saturday evening, as Sacred Heart University recorded a 10-5 victory in feisty, penalty-filled affair at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks.
STAC falls to 10-5-1 overall (7-3-1 MCHC) following the clash between Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference foes. Sacred Heart remains at the top of the MCHC standings and completes the two-game regular season sweep over the Spartans.
Devin Niccoll, Andrew Fenninger, Kevin Vitiello, Noah Barr and Jeremy Poggi each tallied a goal for the Spartans on the evening, while Michael Pippo (L, 7-3-1) stopped 33 of 40 shots faced.
The teams combined for 59 penalty minutes (STAC 33 & Sacred Heart 26).
First Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Justin Bernhard (Rob Goetz, Oliver Harag) 6:18, Zach MacLeod (Charles Tyrrell) 7:13, Jeremiah Ryan (Unassisted) 7:52, Charles Tyrrell (Justin Bernhard, Thomas Howell) 8:19/PP.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Devin Niccoll (Jesse Formica) 5:07.
First Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Stan Duwal (Cross-Checking/2:00 Minor) 13:17, Charles Tyrrell (Boarding/2:00 Minor) 15:04.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - William Thyberg (Kneeing/2:00 Minor) 7:52, Devin Niccoll (Roughing/2:00 Minor) 9:32.
Second Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Justin Bernhard (Mike Angeletti, Mike Richardson) 7:34, Conall Gately (Ryan Martin, Zach MacLeod) 13:41.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Andrew Fenninger (Nicholas Delia) 3:26, Kevin Vitiello (Noah Barr) 5:06, Noah Barr (Jeremy Poggi, Sebastiano Vinci) 18:54.
Second Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Brandon Cardelli (Interference/2:00 Minor) 1:39, Oliver Harag (Delay of Game - Closing Hand On Puck/2:00 Minor) 5:24, Lucca Conigliaro (Elbowing/2:00 Minor) 8:02, Brady Marszalek (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 13:27.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Devin Niccoll (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 2:48, Kevin Vitiello (Tripping/2:00 Minor) 12:43, Jason Desalvo (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 15:39.
Third Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Lucca Conigliaro (Conall Gately, Mike Angeletti) 1:33, Mike Angeletti (Justin Bernhard, Thomas Howell) 8:20/PP, Brandon Cardelli (Austin Jellison, Ryan Martin) 12:07/PP, Charles Tyrrell (Mike Angeletti, Lucca Conigliaro) 18:51.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Jeremy Poggi (Jesse Formica, Noah Barr) 18:09/SH.
Third Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Austin Jellison (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/2:00 Minor) 13:36, Austin Jellison (Misconduct/10:00 Misconduct) 13:36, Zach MacLeod (Tripping/2:00 Minor) 14:41.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Nicholas Delia (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 5:32, Michael Pippo (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 7:31, Michael Pippo (Roughing/2:00 Minor) 7:31, Michael Pippo (Head Contact/5:00 Major) 7:31, Michael Pippo (Disqualification/10:00 DQ) 7:31, Devin Niccoll (High-Sticking/2:00 Minor) 16:46.
Goalies
Sacred Heart University - Ben Sfarra (Win, 60:00), 16 Saves.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Michael Pippo (Loss, 47:31), 33 Saves & Theo Morris (12:29), 12 Saves.
Shots on Goal
Sacred Heart University - 55
St. Thomas Aquinas College - 21
Up Next
St. Thomas Aquinas College will have a quick turnaround, returning to action on Sunday, February 4 against Stevens Institute of Technology at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks. The Spartans and Ducks will do battle in another MCHC matchup with postseason standings implications, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Monsey, N.Y.