ST. LAWRENCE TOPS VERMONT WITH LATE GOAL, 4-3

Dean Strong had a goal and an assist for Vermont

CANTON, N.Y. - Sophomore Jared Keller scored the game-winning goal with less than one second remaining to lift St. Lawrence to a 4-3 victory against No. 11 Vermont at Appleton Arena on Saturday night. The Catamounts drop to 9-4-2 (6-3-1 HEA) with the loss as their five-game winning streak comes to an end. The Saints improved to 7-8-1 overall and 3-1 against Hockey East teams this season with the win.

"We just couldn't make plays in our own zone and didn't execute as intended," Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon said. "I'm not going to make any excuses we just got outworked and out hustled by a better team tonight."

St. Lawrence senior defenseman Zach Miskovic setup the game winner with a backhanded dump in from the blue line with less than 10 seconds remaining. The puck took an awkward bounce and Vermont freshman goalie Rob Madore (Venetia, Pa.) could not gain control and Keller was there to pounce on the rebound to give the Saints the dramatic win.

Junior Viktor Stalberg (Gothenburg, Sweden) had a power-play goal while seniors Colin Vock (Detroit, Mich.) and Dean Strong (Mississauga, Ont.) also scored goals for the Catamounts. Madore finished with 27 saves.

St. Lawrence senior Shawn Fensel notched a power-play goal and senior Casey Parenteau and freshman Mark Strong scored at even strength.

Stalberg made it 1-0 Vermont with his team-high seventh goal of the season at 7:02 of the opening period. Sophomore Justin Milo (Edina, Minn.) started the play with a wrister from the left point that deflected to Stalberg at the bottom of the right circle. It was also Stalberg's team leading fourth power-play goal.

Parenteau tied the game 1-1 when he took advantage of a Vermont turnover at the bottom of the circle at 9:59 of the first. Then Armstrong put the Saints in front 2-1 with a backhander that found the net off a rebound at 12:16.

The Catamounts tied the game just 36 seconds into the second period on Vock's goal in transition. From the right circle, Vock sent a wrist shot five-hole on Saints freshman goalie Robby Moss (20 saves) to make it 2-2.

St. Lawrence went back in front 4:57 into the third period on a power-play goal by Fensel.

Strong tied the game 3-3 with 12:19 left when his backhander beat Moss top shelf from the left circle in transition.

St. Lawrence out shot Vermont 31-23. The Catamounts dropped to 3-1-1 in non-conference play this season with the loss.

Vermont returns to action on Fri., Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. against Colgate in the opening round of the Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup. St. Lawrence meets Ferris State in the early game at 4 p.m.

NOTES: St. Lawrence leads the all-time series against Vermont 43-35-3 ... The Catamounts dropped to 7-2 in one-goal games this season ... Viktor Stalberg has recorded at least one point in eight of nine games ... Entering the game the Saints had been outscored 13-7 in the final period this season but outscored the Catamounts 2-1 in the final 20 minutes tonight.