GORHAM, Maine – The New England College Pilgrims converted 3 of 6 power-play opportunities en route to a 4-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in ECAC Men's East action Friday evening at the USM Ice Arena.

            The victory snapped a seven-game winless stretch (0-6-1) for the Pilgrims, and improved their record to 5-7-2 overall and 4-3-1 in the league.  The Huskies dipped to 6-8-0 overall and 3-5-0 in conference play.

            Sophomore James O'Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) paced the Pilgrim offense with two first-period power-play goals.  Rookie Kyle Manlow (Murretta, Calif.) scored an even-strength goal in the middle period, and senior Jonathan Boxill (Bracknell, England) had a man-advantage marker in the third period.  Freshman Cheyne Matheson (Wheatly, Ontario) had two assists for the Pilgrims.

            Sophomore Brad McGovern (Haverhill, Mass.) had the Huskies lone goal early in the second period.

            Senior Shawn Sirman (Blezard Valley, Ontario) stopped 18 of 19 shots he faced in the NEC goal to earn his fourth win of the campaign.  Freshman Josh Hillegas (Middleton, Wis.) made 21 saves for USM.

            O'Reilly gave the Pilgrims a 1-0 lead at 13:23 of the opening period when he buried the puck behind Hillegas from 15 feet out in front.  O'Reilly picked up his second marker three-and-a-half minutes later when he tucked home a shot at the left post after taking a pass from Matheson.

            McGovern cut the Huskies' deficit in half at 1:54 of the middle period as his shot from the right wing circle found its way past Sirman.  The NEC senior got a piece of the shot, but the puck trickled over the goal line for McGovern's second goal of the season.  Sophomore Ryan Seward (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) and junior Kody Collins (Keswick, Ontario) earned the assists.

            Manlow turned the momentum around 37 seconds later with his third goal of the season, assisted by Boxill and junior Patrick Corcoran (Philadelphia, Pa.).

            Boxill added the Pilgrims' third power-play goal of the night at 1:18 of the third period when his shot from the right circle beat Hillegas.

            The Pilgrims finished the game with a 25-19 edge in shots on goal, and killed off all three Huskies' power plays.

            Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) hosting Saint Anselm College.  New England College will travel to Biddeford, Maine, to play at the University of New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).