SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Wilkes University men's ice hockey team used three first period goals on their way to a 3-1 final over Rivier University in the consolation game of the Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational to take third place at the Saratoga Spring City Rink Sunday afternoon. First year forward Matt Carlson was named to the All-Tournament Team.
With the non-conference victory Wilkes improved to 3-6-1 overall on the season while sending Rivier to a 4-5-1 record.
Senior Nick Godfrey opened the scoring for Wilkes as he netted his second of the season off assists from Patrick Roginski and Billy Berry just 28 seconds into the first period.
Carlson then extended the Colonels lead at the 12:52 mark of the first as he scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year. Steven Spetz and Scott Mueller had the helpers on Carlson's tally.
Ben Stefanini added a third first period goal for the Colonels as he found the net at the 18:10 mark off assists from Jimmy O'Kane and Lorenzo Marcolin as Wilkes led 3-0.
Kurt Watson scored unassisted for the Raiders late in the second period but the Wilkes defense and Michael Paterson-Jones in net were strong throughout in not allowing Rivier any closer on the scoreboard. Paterson-Jones made 19 saves to earn his first win of the year and the team as a whole held the Raiders to 20 total shots on goal, a season-low.
Wilkes had 28 shots on goal with Ryan Galvin and Godfrey leading the way with four each.
Will Augustine made eight saves in the first period for Rivier while Andrew LoRusso stopped all 17 of the shots he faced across the second and third periods.
Berry led Wilkes at the faceoff dot as he went 9-for-12 and the Colonels held a 30-23 advantage overall on faceoffs.
The Colonels were 0-for-1 on the power play while the Raiders were 0-for-3.
Wilkes returns to United Collegiate Hockey Conference action with a doubleheader at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday at 12:00 p.m.