Newark, Del. — After powering away to a 6-3 win on Friday, the University of Delaware Division 1 men’s hockey team (4-7-0) failed to overcome an uphill battle in their Saturday (Nov. 10) rematch with Rhode Island and fell short, 5-4, at Fred Rust Arena.
The Rams’ Matt Kowash opened the scoring 40 seconds in with a rebound put-back off a Jake Salisbury chance, and both teams went on to alternate goals through a fast-paced first period. Mike Nisky put the Hens on the board with a power-play goal at 4:26, finding the left side of the net to tie the game. Rhode Island’s Dan Caruso and Delaware’s Jake Nimeh then exchanged late-period tallies, tying the game at two goals apiece through 20 minutes.
With Delaware’s Mike Zidansek issued an interference minor in the final five seconds of the first, Rhode Island began the second period with nearly an entire power play, and they capitalised. Chad Stone beat Delaware goalie Stephen East just 34 seconds into the frame off a Filip Akermark feed to lift the Rams to a 3-2 advantage, only for leading Blue Hens scorer Chris Mazzella to tie the game back up of a Nisky assist at 5:21. Four minutes later, Akermark set up Nick Centauro to give the Rams a lead they would not relinquish, padded by a Danny Ryan goal 6-1/2 minutes into the third period. Nisky’s second goal of the game brought the Hens back within one with 7:52 remaining, however their rally was contained by a stout Rams defence that limited the Hens to eight third-period shots and kept an extra-attacker opportunity through the final 30 seconds fruitless.
Dan DeSilva stopped 31 of 35 shots in victory for Rhode Island, while Delaware netminder Stephen East recorded 33 saves on 38 shots while taking the loss.
