#6 Ranked Montclair State Beats #13 Endicott College

Nov. 21, 2005

The Endicott College Gulls looked to regain the same swagger they had before the start of their New Jersey weekend by taking on the Montclair State Red Hawks, and by trying to overcome a loss against William Paterson the night before.

From the start of the first period Endicott showed how determined they were by out hitting and skating their opponents. Statements were also made early on by goalie Jeff Pardue and Montclairs' Joe Ballance by making point-blank saves, and each only allowing one goal in the period. The Red Hawks tallied first when Endicott allowed a two-on-one break and failed to pick up a streaking Skylar Cauceglia that was able to slip the puck past Pardue. The Gulls would respond a minute later when a determined Kenny Dargon would beat the Montclair defenseman, and was able to gather his own rebound for his second goal of the weekend.

In the second period Montclair again applied too much pressure for Endicott to handle and was first to get on the board. Again it was a two-on-one allowed by Endicott when Michael Bowser broke in from the outside, Pardue made the initial save, but an untouched Michael Iracki was on the back post for the rebound. Montclair's third goal of the game, came when Endicott's Joe Dudek was whistled off for slashing and Pete Bonaventura was situated in the high slot for the point blank goal. The last goal of the period again was credited to the Red Hawks when they were able to prevent Endicott from breaking out of their own zone, and Bowser was able to walk in alone on Pardue for their third goal of the period.

Endicott seemed to come alive in the third period despite only playing a handful of players and fighting a three goal deficit. At the 12:00 minute mark, freshman Rob Fruggiero won the face off in the Montclair zone to Mike Manfredi who was able to elude one defender and roofed a pretty back-hander to the back of the net. Two minutes later on another successful face-off by Endicott's Bryan Caccamo, senior Scott Vaughn fired a wrist shot from the point that was deflected by Manfredi for his second goal of the game making it 4-3.

Despite the momentum swing in Endicott's favor, it was short-lived, when 40 seconds later Montclair stormed back for the fifth goal of the night. Again Endicott had a hard time getting the puck out of their own zone, and even more difficulty moving the Red Hawks from in front of Pardue, making each shot an adventure. Finally at 3:18 of the third period and Endicott caught out of position, Pardue had little chance when Cauceglia was able to deflect a shot from Bryan Crosby for a 6-3 win.

Endicott who now sits 8-4 on the season and will host MIT on December 3 at 7:00pm at the Pingree School.