REISTERSTOWN, Md. - Stevenson Men's Hockey matched a program-best 18 wins on the season with tonight's triumph at home. Six different Mustangs scored to increase their win streak to eight while sending Neumann home from the series empty-handed.
Neumann came out with something to prove, making the game 2-0 in their favor within the first six minutes. The Mustangs were quick to respond with a power-play goal just four minutes later, scored by senior Frank Vitucci via junior Liam McCanney and sophomore John Musella.
The Mustangs would score two more goals before the opening period expired thanks to first year Rhett Evjen and senior Zach Bannister. Evjen was assisted by Bannister, and Bannister's power-play goal was set up by sophomore Blake Benson and junior Aidan Graham.
The Knights scored early in the second to tie the game at three, and it would be McCanney once again to help the Mustangs pull ahead for the final time with just over 32 seconds left in the period. Benson and classmate Jack Karlsson were credited with the assists on the Mustangs' only goal of the second period.
In the third, junior Graeme McCrory inked his name on the scoresheet by way of passes from seniors Brendan Rylott and Eric Olson. Neumann pulled their goalie in the final minute, and first year Jack Meloff took full advantage as he buried his first collegiate goal. Benson earned his third assist of the night on the play.
McCanney is coming away from the weekend with a team-best 24 points on 19 goals and five assists, followed by Benson with 23 points (9 G, 14 A). Bannister follows with 22 points, tying Benson for the team-leading 14 assists. Vitucci and Evjen's goals were each their seventh of the season while McCrory's was his fourth. Musella and Rylott's assists put them at ten each, Graham and Olson's at eight each, and Karlsson at nine.
McCrory had his best night of the season so far in the circle, winning 17 of 22 draws.
In net, sophomore Ford DeLoss made 21 stops for his second win of the season.
The Mustangs now stand at 18-4-1 overall and 14-3-1 in the UCHC. They remain at Reisterstown Sportsplex next weekend when they host Wilkes University in their final regular-season series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, February 9th and 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 10th for the Mustangs' senior day celebration.
