Fairfield, Conn. - Since joining the Metropolitian Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2020-2021, Sacred Heart University has been a thorn in the side of the St. Thomas Aquinas College Ice Hockey Team. The Pioneers have taken all nine matchups from the Spartans, including two postseason meetings.
However, it was a much different story on Sunday as the maroon and gold earned a 4-2 victory over their bitter rivals from Connecticut, in the season's first matchup between the teams at the Martire Family Arena.
STAC improves to 4-3 overall and remains perfect in MCHC play at 3-0.
Anthony Prunty tallied a pair of goals, while Nicholas Delia and Jesse Formica also scored a goal apiece for the Spartans. Goaltender Michael Pippo (W, 2-2) was stellar between the pipes for STAC, turning away 59 of 61 shots.
First Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - No Scoring.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Anthony Prunty (Unassisted) 19:01.
First Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Jeremiah Ryan (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 3:38, Matteo Wilde (Cross-Checking/2:00 Minor) 10:12, Zach MacLeod (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 16:12.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Noah Barr (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 16:12.
Second Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - No Scoring.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Nicholas Delia (Jason Desalvo & Andrew Fenninger) 2:18/PP.
Second Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Matteo Wilde (Slashing/2:00 Minor) 1:54.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Jesse Formica (Interference/2:00 Minor) 6:22, Allen Magie (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 16:10.
Third Period Scoring Summary
Sacred Heart University - Jack Reid (Brady Marszalek) 13:59, Mike Angeletti (Matt Cox) 19:51.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Anthony Prunty (Joey Camporeale) 8:11, Jesse Formica (Unassisted) 18:11/SH.
Third Period Penalty Summary
Sacred Heart University - Matteo Wilde (Cross-Checking/2:00 Minor) 11:02, Mike Richardson (Fighting/5:00 Major) 20:00, Mike Richardson (Disqualification/10:00 DQ) 20:00.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Bench (Too Many Men/2:00 Bench Minor) - Served by John Redmond 5:44, John Brennan (Hooking/2:00 Minor) 17:16, James Guild (Fighting/5:00 Major) 20:00, James Guild (Disqualification/10:00 DQ) 20:00.
Goalies
Sacred Heart University - Jonathan Vitti (Loss, 59:00), 41 Saves & Empty Net (1:00), 0 Saves.
St. Thomas Aquinas College - Michael Pippo (Win, 60:00), 59 Saves.
Shots on Goal
Sacred Heart University - 61
St. Thomas Aquinas College - 45
Up Next
St. Thomas Aquinas (4-3-0, 3-0-0 MCHC) heads to the Keystone State for its next three games, as the Spartans face Central Maine Community College (Friday, November 1 - 9:15 p.m.), York College (Saturday, November 2 - 4:00 p.m) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Sunday, November 3 - 11:00 a.m.) in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) showcase at Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pennsylvania.