Great Neck, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey team concluded its historic 2023-2024 season on Sunday afternoon, falling to Sacred Heart University 10-0 in the program's first-ever Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship final at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink.
STAC wraps up its campaign with a 15-6-1 overall record and a 10-3-1 MCHC mark.
This season the Spartans compiled many record-setting milestones, including setting a new mark for wins in a season (15) under eighth year Head Coach Matt Schuster, eclipsing the previous total of 13 in 2019-2020, and winning the team's first-ever postseason game by defeating Stevens Institute of Technology, 6-3 in the semifinals.
In Sunday's final, Michael Pippo (L, 10-4-1) stopped 32-of-39 shots faced in 53:14 of action, with Theo Morris closing out the contest (6:46) and allowing three goals on eight shots faced.
First Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Brady Marszalek (Jeremiah Ryan) 13:56, Justin Bernhard (Unassisted) 13:35/SH, Zach MacLeod (Jeremiah Ryan) 17:14.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - No Scoring.
First Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - No Penalties.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Matthew Golon (Roughing/2:00 Minor) 12:14
Second Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Brady Marszalek (Sean Feeney) 7:42.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - No Scoring.
Second Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Sean Feeney (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 3:44, Matteo Wilde (Tripping/2:00 Minor) 11:59, Oliver Harag (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 17:59.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Nicholas Delia (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 14:23.
Third Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Charles Tyrrell (Justin Bernhard, Thomas Howell) 1:48/PP, Jeremiah Ryan (Brady Marszalek, Matteo Wilde) 1:59, Matteo Wilde (Zach MacLeod) 13:14/PP, Ryan Martin (Unassisted) 15:38/PP, Austin Jellison (Jack Reid, Oliver Harag) 17:05/PP, Stan Duwal (Rob Goetz) 19:02
St. Thomas Aquinas College - No Scoring.
Third Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Conall Gately (Roughing/2:00 Minor) 9:58, Connor Smith (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/2:00 Minor) 10:13
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Kevin Vitiello (Cross-Checking/2:00 Minor) 0:58, Devin Niccoll (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 3:14, Andrew Fenninger (Roughing/2:00 Minor) 9:58, Jeremy Poggi (Spearing/5:00 Major) 10:13, Jeremy Poggi (Disqualification/10:00 Disqualification) 10:13, Jeremy Poggi (Unsportsmanlike Conduct-Spitting/5:00 Major) 10:13, Jeremy Poggi (Disqualification/10:00 Disqualification) 10:13, John Brennan (Removing Opponent Face Mask/5:00 Major) 10:29, John Brennan (Game Misconduct/10:00 Game Misconduct) 10:29, John Brennan (Head Contact/5:00 Major) 10:29, John Brennan (Game Misconduct/10:00 Game Misconduct) 10:29, Devin Niccoll (Holding/2:00 Minor) 10:54.
Goalies
Sacred Heart University - Connor Smith (Win, 60:00), 19 Saves.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Michael Pippo (Loss, 53:14), 32 Saves & Theo Morris (6:46), 5 Saves.
Shots on Goal
Sacred Heart University - 47
St. Thomas Aquinas College - 19
THANK YOU FANS!
The St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey team would like to thank all of the many friends and fans of the program for all of their support this season. We'll see you in September 2024!