This week in Suffolk University sports: Men’s hockey rolls past conference foe, women’s hockey continues January gauntlet, men’s basketball picks up a lopsided win, women’s basketball continues losing streak and track & field competes at home meet.
Men’s hockey rolls past conference foe
Facing a crosstown foe in the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards for two games over the weekend, men’s hockey cruised in the first game to a 5-0 shutout victory Jan. 16.
Suffolk was ahead 1-0 after the first period thanks to a power play goal by Aidan O’Connell. Joe O’Brien and O’Connell scored in the second period to push the lead to 3-0 before O’Connell scored twice in the third period to get the hat trick and reach four goals in a game, which also secured the win for the Rams.
Nolan Leonard and Marko Giourof each assisted on two of O’Connell’s goals to have multi-point days for the Rams. Austin McNicholas made 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and second against the Leopards.
The next day, Suffolk’s domination over the Leopards continued with a 4-1 win on home ice. The Rams had the first four goals of the game, with Giourof scoring twice plus goals from Alex Ondos and Joe O’Brien. Wentworth’s goal came from Ian Worthley late in the third period.
Suffolk wraps up the season series against Wentworth a perfect 3-0 against the Leopards, having outscored them 14-1 across those three games.
Women’s hockey handed two more losses in national tilt
Women’s hockey took on No. 15 nationally ranked Plattsburgh State University on the road for two games, with the first one resulting in a 6-1 loss for the Rams Jan. 16.
Plattsburgh got on the board first thanks to Zoe Puc’s goal 7:12 into the game. Just over four minutes later, Bella Schmidt found the back of the net for the Rams with assists from Laurel Potter and Katie Newkirk.
After that, Plattsburgh rattled off five unanswered goals, including three in three minutes in the third period, to coast to a five-goal win. Chloe Lewis made 14 saves in the win, while Katelyn Michals had a busy day, allowing six goals despite making 52 saves.
The second game was equally as lopsided, with the Cardinals dealing Suffolk an 8-3 loss. Suffolk now stands at 5-9-1 overall as they wrap up their non-conference schedule.
Plattsburgh scored five times in the first period, twice in the second and once in the third on their way to the lopsided win. Michals was busy in net once again, making 50 saves despite allowing eight goals, just one day after a 52-save performance.
Men’s basketball continues picking up CNE steam
Taking on the Conference of New England rival Roger Williams University Hawks, men’s basketball used a massive second half to pull away from the Hawks and roll to an 82-64 win on home court, boosting their conference record to 5-1.
The Hawks took a 39-37 lead into halftime as the teams traded baskets throughout the first half. The second half saw a 22-point swing in favor of the Rams, outscoring the Hawks 45-25 in the final 20 minutes to pick up a big win.
James Jones engineered the Suffolk offense with 20 points on the day. Greg Keane, who ranks fifth in the country in blocks per game, added four more to his stat line to go with 12 points. Nick Verdile chipped in 16 points, Connor Strickland had 10 and Harrison Neil scored 17 off the bench.
Facing the No. 21 nationally ranked Endicott College Gulls Jan. 17, the Rams’ three-game winning streak came to an end with a 69-44 loss to the Gulls.
Suffolk trailed Endicott by one at halftime, but the Gulls’ defense was at the top of its game in the second half, holding the Rams to only 19 points while the Endicott offense scored 43 on the Rams. Keane was the only Ram in double figures with 11 points to go with three blocks.
The Rams quickly rebounded against Nichols College, picking up a 73-65 win on home court.
Jones and Hatcher Nordquist each had 13 points to lead the Rams, while Jones recorded a double-double with a 14-rebound game. Greg Keane added 12 points and two blocks, Neil chipped in 12 as well and Verdile had 11 on 3-for-10 shooting from three.
Women’s basketball snaps lengthy losing streak
Facing Roger Williams on home court, women’s basketball was handed their sixth straight loss with a 62-52 final score, dropping to 8-7 overall and 2-4 in CNE play.
Allison Bono made her presence known on the court for the Rams, directing the offense with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double thanks to 8-for-14 shooting. Tatiana Tune and Jordan Moreau also ended up in double figures for points, with Tune collecting 12 points and Moreau 10.
Suffolk’s struggles in the shooting game continued as the Rams went 0-for-9 from three-point range and 21-for-55 overall, compared to 6-for-22 three-point shooting and 19-for-53 overall by the Hawks.
Suffolk’s losing streak reached seven games when they faced Endicott Jan. 17, falling 75-60 to put their record at an even 8-8. It’s been a sharp fall for the Rams, who were 8-1 after a 58-46 win over Curry College Dec. 6, which was their second CNE win of the season.
Against the Gulls, Bono tried her best to will the Rams to a win, pouring in a career-best 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field. Olivia Verdile was a force off the bench for the Rams, adding 16 points on 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range. Only four other Rams registered points in the game as the Gulls overpowered Suffolk most of the game.
The losing streak for the Rams came to an end against Nichols on home court Jan. 20, with Suffolk outlasting the Bison by a 76-68 final score.
Moreau and Bono were once again the leaders for the Rams, with Moreau scoring 19 points and adding seven rebounds. Bono had 17 points and was just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds on the day. Tune and Ava Thurman were the other Rams in double figures, with Tune scoring 16 points and Thurman adding 12.
Indoor track & field hosts Ice Breaker invite
Indoor track & field kept its season going by competing at the Suffolk Ice Breaker Jan. 18.
On the men’s side, 11 personal records were set across event groups, including a trio of indoor debuts. Will Manix, Matthew Ramage and Eric Anderson made their Suffolk indoor debuts, with Manix racing the 400-meter dash, Ramarge competing in the 3-kilometer race and Anderson racing the mile. 10 personal bests were set for the women’s team.
