PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – Salve Regina University scored three straight goals in the second period to take the lead for good and Manhattanville College had no response as the Valiant men’s hockey team dropped its 2016-17 season-opener to the Seahawks, 4-1, at the Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink on Friday night.
Manhattanville (0-1-0) struck first 6:25 into the opening period, with junior Brad Riccardi (Scarsdale, N.Y./Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (EHL)) finding the net in his first game as a Valiant. The Franklin Pierce University transfer picked up a puck in front of the cage and beat Salve netminder Blake Wojtala for the score, with the lone assist credited to senior Phil Dinner (Dallas, Texas/Connecticut Oilers (EJHL)).
The lead did not last long, however, as the Seahawks’ Evan Schultz responded just 28 seconds later to even the score at one. The game remained tied after 20 minutes despite several quality scoring chances from both teams, including a pair of successful Valiant penalty kills.
The second period proved to be the difference on the night, as Salve Regina (1-0-0) scored three unanswered goals to take a commanding lead. Evan Schmidbauer put the home team ahead 4:45 into the frame, followed by a big shorthanded goal from Jonathan Felteau at the 10:49 mark and then a Chase Hatcher score with 4:12 left in the stanza.
The Valiants struggled with the man advantage in the first game of the season, going scoreless in seven man-up opportunities and also ceding a shorthanded goal. The penalty-kill unit was perfect in five man-down situations as well.
Manhattanville finished the night with a 30-22 edge in shots, but Salve Regina got 29 saves from Wojtala to pick up the win. Sophomore Tyler Feaver (Whitby, Ont./Whitby Fury (OJHL)) made 18 saves for the Valiants in a losing effort.
Manhattanville will return to action tomorrow night, as the Valiants travel north to take on Daniel Webster College beginning at 7 p.m.
