The Seawolves rocked the ACHA once again this weekend, splitting their weekend series against the Liberty University Flames. Stony Brook dominated game one on Saturday, January 22 to hand the No. 3 team in the nation its biggest loss of the season with a 5-0 win before falling just short of completing a stellar comeback in Sunday, January 23’s 6-4 loss.
High off of last weekend’s sweep against Ohio, the Seawolves showed up ready for action on Saturday. Senior forward Charles Peck found the back of the net early in the first period, kick-starting Stony Brook’s trouncing of Liberty. Shortly after, junior forward Matt Minerva scored to give the Seawolves a two-goal lead going into the second period. Freshman forward Brandon Avezov and junior forward Michael Conlin each lit the lamp in the second period. The Flames could not find an answer for the spectacular play of sophomore goalie Matvei Kazakov, who earned a 36-save shutout. With under three minutes remaining in the game, Minerva scored his second goal of the game, extinguishing the Flames for the night.
Riled from their loss the night before, the Flames came into Sunday’s game more prepared. Liberty started the game by scoring a pair of goals in the first followed by two more goals in the second period, taking a 4-0 lead just over half way through the game. Junior forward Shawn Rainville responded with Stony Brook’s first goal of the game before the period ended, but the home team still had its work cut out for them. The Flames cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play early in the third period, but Stony Brook fought back hard. Peck picked up a power play goal of his own just moments after the Flames’ goal and after two consecutive goals from junior defenseman Robert Distefano the Seawolves found themselves down 5-4. A quick response from Liberty ultimately put an end to the Stony Brook comeback though, and the Seawolves lost for the first time in the second half.
This Friday, Stony Brook will travel to the Class of 1923 Ice Arena for their game against Drexel University at 7:40 p.m.
