Saturday, January 4, 2003

TRINITY MEN’S ICE HOCKEY LOSES TO NORWICH IN TOURNAMENT FINALS

Northfield, Vt.- Sophomore forward Paul Mattucci (Peterborough, Ontario) scored two goals, including the go-ahead score with 3:02 remaining in the game, to lead the Norwich University Cadets to a 4-1 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams in the final round of the Times Argus Men’s Ice Hockey Invitational Tournament this evening at Kreitzberg Arena. 

Trinity, ranked No. 16 in the nation, falls to 5-2-1 for the season with its first loss in the last five games, while No. 1-ranked Norwich remains perfect for the season with its ninth win in as many tries and the the 400^th win in the career of Head Coach Mike McShane.  The Utica College Pioneers defeated the University of St. Thomas Tommies, ranked No. 7 in the nation, by a score of 4-2 in the consolation game.

Norwich started an otherwise quiet first period with an early goal on a breakaway by junior forward and tournament MVP Matt Schmidt (Markham, Ontario). Sophomore goalie Doug Kisielius (Park Ridge, Ill.) provided the Bantam first period highlights with 15 saves, while the Trinity offense was held to six shots by the Cadet blue-liners.

The momentum shifted in the second period, as Trinity outshot Norwich, 16-9, over the second 20 minutes, and tied the score on a short range wrist shot by sophomore forward Joseph Ori (Niles, Ill.) with 3:02 on the clock.

Both teams had several opportunities to take the lead early in the third frame.  Norwich junior forward Phil Aucoin (Chelmsford, Mass.) shot the puck wide right of an empty net after working around Kisielius who had come out of the crease to meet him.  Trinity sophomore forward Ryan Stevens (Concord, N.H.) had the Bantams’ best chance for the lead, but was stymied on an excellent save by Cadet senior goalie Randy Hevey (Chicopee, Mass.) after he had deked his way past a Norwich defender on the right wing.

The Cadets finally took advantage of one of several power play situations in the third period when Mattucci scored on a nifty feed from sophomore forward Vadim Beliaev (Riga, Latvia).  Norwich extended its lead to 3-1 19 seconds later on a goal by sophomore forward Mario Chinelli (Laval, Quebec), and added an empty netter by Mattucci to account for  a 4-1 final count.

Ori and Bantam freshman forward Cameron Finch (Acton, Mass.), both of whom scored twice in Trinity’s 4-3 win over St. Thomas in the semi-finals, were named to the all-tournament team.  Kisielius finished with 40 saves in the game, while sophomore forward Jeff Natale (Hamden, Conn.) and junior defenseman Timothy Joncas (Branford, Conn.) had assists for the Bantams. 

GOALS
1. N- Matt Schmidt (Chris Fuss, Toza Crnilovic) 2:08.
2. TC- Joseph Ori (Jeff Natale, Timothy Joncas) pp 16:58.
3. N- Paul Mattucci (Vadim Beliaev, Lou DiMasi) pp 16:58, N- Mario Chinelli (Schmidt, Phil Aucoin) 17:17, N- Mattucci (Schmidt) en 19:25.

GOALIE SAVES
TC- Doug Kisielius 41
N- Randy Hevey 30

POWER PLAY
TC- 1/3, N- 1/5

PENALTIES
TC- 5/10, N- 4/8