The Stony Brook hockey team faced one of its most difficult opponents of the season this past weekend when it hosted the No. 2-ranked Liberty Flames. The Seawolves showed that they were up for the task, however, splitting the two-game set against their ESCHL rival.
The Seawolves got off to a good start in game one on Saturday, January 25, leading 18-10 in shots on goal in the first period. Just under seven minutes into the game, senior defenseman Kyle Huhn fired a shot from the top of the circle into the Liberty net to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Flames battled back in the second period, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead, but the game’s frequent momentum shifts soon gave Stony Brook an opportunity to even the score. Sophomore forward Dustin Rinaldo made it a 2-2 game on a power play with under two minutes remaining in the middle frame.
With the score tied early in the third period, senior goalie Sean Keating made a spectacular diving save which to keep the game knotted up 2-2. His heroics were rewarded moments later when freshman defenseman Dominic Molfetto scored another power play goal to make it 3-2 Seawolves. Later, with 11:15 remaining in regulation time, freshman forward Ian Keller deposited gave Stony Brook an insurance goal. Keller factored in on all four Seawolves goals, finishing the night with one goal and three assists. The Flames responded seconds later with a goal of their own, but they were unable to completely erase the lead. Keating turned aside 20 of 21 total shots in the third period and Stony Brook extended its winning streak to a season-long eight games with the 4-3 victory.
Liberty came back with a strong effort on Sunday, January 26, scoring seven times in a lopsided 7-2 victory. Junior defenseman Brendan Pepe opened the scoring in the first period, but the Flames scored a trio of goals before the end of the first and added two more in the second. The Flames went on to make it 7-1 in the third, but a goal from junior forward Joseph Slevin cut into the deficit late in the game. The 7-2 win was Liberty’s first victory on Long Island since 2018.
Stony Brook will hit the road for the next two weekends, beginning with a series against the Delaware Blue Hens. Game one will be on Friday, January 31 at 6:15 p.m. and game two will be on Saturday, February 1 at 5:25 p.m.
