Stony Brook continued its winning streak to start the season, improving to 6-0-0 with a home-and-home sweep against Rutgers.
The Seawolves were dominant in the first period of game one, edging the Ice Knights 14-6 in shots on goal. Junior defenseman Brendan Pepe opened the scoring midway through the first period and senior forward Kevin Murphy tacked on another to give Stony Brook a 2-0 advantage after the first.
Rutgers cut the lead in half early in the second period, but Stony Brook continued its pressure. Pepe scored his second of the night to regain the two-goal lead and freshman forward Michael Conlin and senior forward Nick Belger both lit the lamp to make it 5-1 Seawolves through 40 minutes. Senior defenseman Kyle Huhn scored on a power play 28 seconds into the third period to extend the lead to five goals. The Ice Knights got one back a few minutes later making it 6-2 Seawolves, but ultimately they were unable to erase the Stony Brook lead.
Saturday night’s game got off to a slower start for the Seawolves offensively. Though shots on goal and possession heavily favored Stony Brook in the first period, strong goaltending kept the home team off the board and kept the game scoreless heading into the first intermission.
Early in the second period, junior forward Chuckie Peck broke the ice for the Seawolves to grab a 1-0 lead. Though the team continued to play well throughout the period, Stony Brook’s lead would remain 1-0 after 40 minutes of play despite a 33-16 edge in shots on goal.
The floodgates finally opened in the third period, beginning with Conlin’s fifth goal in the past four games, which came just 32 seconds into the period. With 11:16 left in regulation Murphy went five-hole to give his team a 3-0 lead, starting a span of three Stony Brook goals in 1:10 with sophomore forward Dustin Rinaldo and Peck both lighting the lamp to make it 5-0. Then with just under five minutes remaining, sophomore forward Conor Dempsey scored his first goal as a Seawolf to give the team its sixth and final goal of the game. Senior goalie Robby Lockwood earned his first shutout as a Seawolf, making 19 saves en route to his first win of the season.
The Seawolves will return to the ice this weekend when they host the University of Rhode Island Rams in an ESCHL matchup. Game one will be on Friday, October 25 at 9:00 p.m. and game two will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26.
All home games are played at The Rinx:
660 Terry Road
Hauppauge, NY 11788
