PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Friar offense came alive to net nine goals over the last two periods of play en route to a 10-4 win over non-conference opponent American International College at Schneider Arena on Saturday night.
With the win, which included Providence's first 10-goal showing since 2002, the No. 10 Friars improve to 3-0-0 on the year. American International is now 0-1-0.
Providence had nine different goal scorers in the victory, with only junior Shane Luke (Dauphin, Manitoba) recording more than one goal in the meeting as he netted a pair of goals including the game winner. At the conclusion of the first period, the two teams were tied, 1-1, but the offensive outpouring by the Friars proved too much for the Yellow Jackets to overcome. Junior Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.) finished with a goal and three assists for a career-high four points.
Freshman Nick Ellis (Millersville, Md.) earned his first career win for the Friars in his first collegiate game making 20 saves. AIC goaltender Ryan Kerpan played the full game for the Yellow Jackets and stopped 36 shots.
The Yellow Jackets broke scored just 41 seconds after the puck was dropped. Brandon Fagerheim tapped the puck into the Providence net from right outside the crease after Jason Popek connected a cross-ice pass from the right face-off circle. Providence answered back at 6:35 of the period when senior Derek Army (North Kingstown, R.I.) scored his first goal of the season while on the power play. Senior Steven Shamanski (Carberry, Manitoba) started the play when he fed sophomore Nick Saracino (St. Louis, Mo.) the puck. Saracino then sent the original shot towards Kerpan. Kerpan kept the puck out of the net but Army followed up on the play and put the puck into the open net to tie the game.
A four-goal second period by the Friars resulted in the team holding a 5-2 lead over the Yellow Jackets after 40 minutes of play. Freshman Niko Rufo (Stoneham, Mass.) scored his first collegiate goal to break the 1-1 tie at 7:13 of the second period. Sophomore Mark Jankowski (Dundas, Ontario) sent a pass from the side of the AIC net to Shamanski while the Friars were on the power play. Shamanski got a shot on goal from outside the right face-off circle and Rufo grabbed the rebound for a 2-1 Friars lead. Freshman Anthony Florentino (West Roxbury, Mass.) doubled the Friars' advantage when his blast from the boards found its way through traffic, fooling Kerpan. Sophomore Steven McParland (Schreiber, Ontario) and red shirt sophomore Noel Acciari (Johnston, R.I.) each assisted on Florentino's second of the year.
AIC cut the Friar lead in half when Jason Popek scored at 12:13 of the period but the Friars shortly thereafter regained the twogoal lead. Senior Kevin Hart (Cumberland, Maine) added his first goal of the season unassisted at 13:52 to put the Friars ahead 4-2. Luke then tallied the first of his two goals of the night at 15:20, also marking his first goal of the year. The eventual game winner was assisted by Mauermann.
Opening the scoring in the third period was Luke at 3:38 with the second of his consecutive goals on the scoresheet. Identical to his first goal, classmate Mauermann recorded the lone assist.
Next, senior defenseman Mark Adams (Boxford, Mass.) notched his first career goal in his first appearance of the season. Mauermann won the face-off to start the play and got the puck to Adams, who sent a shot from the blue line past Kerpan at 6:07. A highlight reel goal in which sophomore Mark Jankowski (Dundas, Ontario) weaved his way through three Yellow Jacket defensemen in the offensive zone gave Providence a 8-3 lead at 11:56 of the third frame. Classmate Brooks Behling's (Pittsburgh, Pa.) first career point came on the play, in his first appearance of the season. Sophomore Brandon Tanev registered his first goal of the season at 15:29 that was assisted by Acciari and Behling. Mauermann rounded out the game's scoring with a shot from the slot that beat Kerpan five hole at 18:12.
Carson Grolla and Blake Peake each got the puck past Ellis in the final period of play but the Friar offense proved insurmountable for the Yellow Jackets.
The Friars had a strong night on special teams as they killed off all three penalties they were called for as well as going 2-for-5 on the power play.
The Friars close out their five-game, season opening home stand next weekend with a series against No. 1/1 Miami University. The two teams will play Friday, Oct. 25 at 5:20 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7:00p.m. Both games will be televised live on Cox Sports.