(with contributions from New England College Sports Information)

Southern Maine Falls at New England College 3-1

            HENNIKER, N.H. -- Junior Brett Kilar (Coto de Caza, Calif.) stopped 31 shots, including 14 in the final period, to backstop the New England College Pilgrims to a 3-1 victory over the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies in New England Hockey Conference action Friday night at Clement Arena.

            The win was the third straight for the Pilgrims, and improved their record to 5-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the NEHC.  The Huskies had their two-game winning streak stopped, and fell to 5-5 overall and 2-4 in league play.

            Kilar protected a one-goal lead from the 13:00 mark in the second period until late in the final period when junior Chris Santello (Fairfield, Conn.) scored an insurance goal at 16:27.

            New England College netted the lone goal of the opening period as sophomore Kyle Arenson (Fort Collins, Colo.) notched his second goal of the season 6:48 into the period, putting home the rebound of a shot from rookie Mike Whitehair (Victor, N.Y.).

            Southern Maine would net the equalizer at the 11:25 mark in the second period as junior Cole Klippenstein (Franklin, Tenn.) scored a power-play goal from just above the point assisted by sophomore Alex Pantalone (Hudson, Mass.).

            The tie would be short lived, however, as NEC junior Shawn Watson (Pointe-Claire, Que.) would beat a defender to put in a nice feed from Arenson just 1:35 later.

            USM sophomore goalie Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) made 25 saves before being lifted for the extra attacker with 2:39 to play.  Southern Maine had a 32-28 advantage in shots on goal in the contest.

            Southern Maine is back in action tomorrow afternoon (4:00 p.m.) playing at Saint Anselm College.  New England College will seek to extend its winning streak hosting the University of New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.). 

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