FOXBORO – Senior captain Bryan Rooney (Canton, Mass./New Hampton School) scored twice, including the game-winner with 2:37 remaining in the third period, to lead the Stonehill College ice hockey team to a 4-3 comeback victory over Westfield State University Wednesday night in non-conference action at the Foxboro Sports Center.
Junior forward Kevin Aufiero (Canton, Mass./Walpole Express) contributed two points tonight as well, including a second period goal and the assist on Rooney’s game-winner late in the final period.
Senior forward Bill Carey (Weymouth, Mass./South Shore Kings) added a third period goal, while junior defenseman Brendan Greene (Weymouth, Mass./Boston Advantage) and sophomore forward Richard Harris (Grand Island, N.Y./Valley Jr. Warriors) each registered an assist in Stonehill’s come-from-behind win.
With his two goals, Rooney has now registered a team-best eight this season, and he ranks second with 13 points. The senior’s point total is also good for fifth in the Northeast-10.
Junior goaltender Chris Tasiopoulos (Norwell, Mass./Thayer Academy) earned the win in net, as he stopped 26 shots, including 13 in the second period.
Westfield State utilized three different goal scorers in its productive second period, in which the Owls scored all three of their goals. Freshman defenseman Justin DeVincentis (Ancaster, Ont./Milton Ice Hawks), senior Taylor Murphy (Toronto, Ont./Markham Waxers), and classmate Tyler Prendergast (Richmond Hill, Ont./Whitby Fury) each found the back of the net, while freshman Jackson Leef (Fort Wayne, Ind./Texas Tornado) tallied two assists for the Owls.
Junior Ian Perrier (Whitehorse, Y.T./Dryden Ice Dogs) made 37 saves in goal, including 14 each in the first and third periods.
After a scoreless opening period, Westfield struck first early in the second period on DeVincentis’ second goal of the season. Stonehill wasted no time in responding, as Aufiero tied the score at one at the 3:47 mark of the middle period. Rooney then gave Stonehill its first lead of the game with a power play score four minutes later with the help of Harris.
Westfield State got the equalizer midway through the second period on Murphy’s tally, then the Owls gave themselves a 3-2 advantage heading into the second intermission when Prendergast beat Tasiopoulos at the 12:05 mark of the period.
Facing a third period deficit, Carey tied the contest for the third time, at 3-3, with his second goal of the season just 5:32 into the final period. With under three minutes remaining, Rooney rifled a shot into the top corner of the net to give the Skyhawks a 4-3 advantage that would hold up until the end.
With the win, Stonehill (6-6-0, 3-0-0) snapped its two-game losing streak, and evened its record at .500 heading into its month-long break. The Skyhawks will be off until January 10th, when they travel to the College of Brockport for a non-conference contest with the Golden Eagles. Westfield State (4-7-0, 4-2-0 MASCAC) is also off for a month, before playing at Becker College on January 8th. – Courtesy of Stonehill College
