SCHALLER HAT TRICK HELPS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE PAST VERMONT, 5-2
Junior forward Tim Schaller scores hat trick for Friars

Junior forward Tim Schaller picked up a hat trick for the Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior Tim Schaller (Merrimack, N.H.) scored his first career hat trick to lead the Providence College men's hockey team past Vermont, 5-2, Friday night in a Hockey East game at Schneider Arena. With the win, the Friars improved to 3-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 in league action, while Vermont is now 1-4-0 and 0-3-0 in conference play. It marked Providence's first win over Vermont since February 9, 2008.

Just 1:37 into the game, the Catamounts took the lead on a goal by Connor Brickley. The Friars tied the score (1-1) on a goal by freshman Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.). Seniors Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y) and Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.) notched assists on the goal. PC then capitalized on the power play as Schaller scored his first of the night. Schaller deflected the puck off a shot by New from the blue line past UVM goaltender Rob Madore to give the Friars the lead for good. New registered his second assist of the night and Mauermann also picked up an assist on the play.

The Friars extended their lead to two (3-1) on a short-handed goal by Schaller, for his second goal of the game. The puck was cleared during the kill but was bouncing down the ice forcing Madore to make a save. Schaller put the rebound behind Madore to put PC up by two goals. Senior Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.) and sophomore Steven Shamanski (Carberry, Man.) registered assists.

Drew MacKenzie scored for the Catamounts just 48 seconds into the third period to cut the Friars' lead to 3-2. Sophomore Derek Army (North Kingstown, R.I.) helped the Friars regain their two-goal as he scored on the power play at 6:09. Freshman Damian Cross (Nepean, Ont.) and junior Myles Harvey (Orlando, Fla.) both registered assists. Schaller completed his hat trick at 12:23 on a power-play goal assisted by freshman Drew Brown (Grass Lake, Mich.) and Bergland. Schaller is the first Friar to score a hat trick since Kyle MacKinnon's three-goal game against Alabama-Huntsville on November 12, 2010.

Special teams played an important role in the Friars' victory with three of their goals being scored on the power play as well as scoring a short-handed goal. Providence also was 9-for-9 on the penalty kill. In goal, Providence senior Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) made a season-high 32 saves, while Madore stopped 25 shots.

The two teams will complete the back-to-back series at Schneider Arena tomorrow night at 7:00.