MARLBOROUGH, Mass.- Becker College fell to nationally ranked Endicott College 5-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's hockey action Thursday evening at the New England Sports Center. The win lifts the Gulls record to 12-2-2 (6-2-1 CCC) while the Ice Hawks fall to 5-11 (4-5 CCC).
Sophomore Lloyd Hayes (West Newbury, Mass.) gave Endicott their first of four goals in the first period when he put back a loose puck in front of the Becker net 3:51 into the game.
Becker responded with a Connor Merrick (Manchester, N.H.) power-play goal at the 5:54 mark. Merrick scored when he gathered a rebound on a Bryan Parsons (Shrewsbury, Mass.) slap shot, tipping it past Endicott goalie Kevin Aldridge (Birmingham, Mich.) to tie game at 1-1.
The Gulls took the lead for good 12:51 into the period when Jack Musil (Hull, England) skated to the front of the Ice Hawks net, scoring top shelf with a wrist shot for a power-play goal. Endicott extended to their lead to 3-1 with 3:30 remaining in the first. Josh Bowes (Edmonton, Alberta) and Jason Kalinowski (Stamford, Conn.) connected with Ross Olsson, who used a nifty backhand to beat Becker goalie Tyler Stepke (Mars, Pa.).
The Gulls capped off their four goal outburst with a shorthanded goal from Logan Day (Seminole, Fla.) with 23 seconds remaining the period. Day found the top right corner of the Ice Hawks net with a wrist shot.
After the Ice Hawks kept Endicott at bay in the second period, Joseph Slovak (South Yarmouth, Mass.) wrapped up the scoring with a power-play goal 19:20 into the final frame.
Becker had their opportunities to get back in the game, but the Ice Hawks could only find the back of the Endicott net once on 13 power-play opportunities.
Endicott goalie Kevin Aldridge improved his record to 10-2-2 this season with 27 saves while Tyler Stepke suffered the loss after turning away 37 shots.
Becker will look to get back on track on Saturday, January 21st when they host Suffolk University at 8:30 p.m.
