Newark, Del. — The Delaware Blue Hens Division 3 men’s hockey team (2-1-0) swept their weekend homestand at Gold Arena, defeating Maryland, 9-4, on Friday (Oct. 5) before blanking Pitt-Johnstown, 8-0, on Saturday (Oct. 6).
Friday, Oct. 5 – Delaware 9, Maryland 4
Just two minutes into the first period, Delaware started off what would become a runaway offence with a goal from Saafwan Khan, assisted by Ryan Bryson and Jack Mastronardi. The goal was Khan’s first as a Blue Hen. Eight minutes later, Austin Wetzel potted one from just inside the lower face-off circle, with assists from Joe Weindling and Chris Mayville.
Maryland’s Ian Chochrek cut Delaware’s 2-0 lead in half with just over three minutes left in the first period, assisted by John Henrici and Max Morgan.
Delaware’s Gabe Nadell had four saves in the first period; Maryland’s Mario Miller had eight.
In the second period, Delaware proceeded to dominate with four goals while Nadell held the Terrapins to their lone goal from the first. The Blue Hens’ first middle-frame goal was scored by Matt Vermont, unassisted, 34 seconds into the period. Captain Shane Saladis netted one 2-1/2 minutes in, assisted by Nick Scafidi and Steven Palomba. Just over five minutes in, Ryan D’Emilia scored, assisted by Carson Moore and Corey Calendrillo. Nicholas Mangano, unassisted, wrapped up the scoring with 9:23 left in the period. Mangano’s goal was his first as a Blue Hen blueliner.
The fourth Delaware goal of the period would spell the end of Miller’s evening between the pipes, bringing in Cory Moorefield as replacement. Nadell had five saves on five shots in the period.
Exactly a minute into the final period, Palomba decided he would net a goal of his own, assisted by Scafidi, his second assist on the night. Khan scored his second goal of the game 5-1/2 minutes into the period, with the lone assist from D’Emilia, his second point of the night.
An early third-period penalty for interference on Delaware’s Moore was successfully killed off, but the Terrapins apparently decided then they still had some fight in them as the period turned a little chippy. Chochrek was assessed a five-minute penalty for roughing with 10:46 to go, though it would be Maryland’s only penalty of the period.
A few minutes later, Delaware’s Michael Cerrone was called for a slash, and Maryland’s Ty Fontanilla would manage to score an unassisted power-play goal, with 8:15 left on the clock. Maryland would score again three minutes later to cut Delaware’s lead in half.
The last two minutes were not the craziest of the game, but they were the least coordinated. Khan served a bench minor for too many men on the ice, and was joined in the box moments later by Scafidi for hooking while Maryland would earn a simultaneous penalty. Despite being shorthanded, Delaware’s Palomba scored with 35 seconds left in the period.
Saturday, Oct. 6 – Delaware 8, Pitt-Johnstown 0
The Blue Hens’ offensive juggernaut continued Saturday, when they blanked the Pitt-Johnstown IceCats, 8-0. Eight different players found the back of the Pitt-Johnstown net in what was a complete team effort for Delaware, while Gabe Nadell recorded a 16-save shutout.
Shane Saladis and Nicholas Mangano connected in the first period, while Saafwan Khan, Corey Calendrillo and Steven Palomba beat Johnstown netminder James Borriello in the second frame. The Hens added another trio in the third period, with newcomers Ryan Bryson and Jack Mastronardi — the latter on a power play — potting goals in the first five minutes before Chris Mayville finished off the 8-0 route with an unassisted tally in the ninth minute.
Matt Vermont and Nick Scafidi each recorded two assists.
