GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Ben Aucoin (Moncton, New Brunswick) and junior Ethan Hoover (Hershey, Penn.) each scored twice for the University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team as the Huskies extended their winning streak to four games with a 6-4 win over the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans on Friday night in the USM Ice Arena. Sophomore Gavin Simopoulos (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) recorded multiple points for the third time this season with a pair of assists.
 
Hoover scored the first two goals of his Southern Maine career while freshman Nick Vinson (Brewer, Maine) also recorded his first goal as a Husky. Freshman goalie Loci Morin (Drummondville, Quebec) picked up his fourth win of the year with a 33-save performance.
 
Senior John Hagan (Canton, Mass./Tilton School) also scored for the Huskies for the first time this season. Aucoin, junior Kayde Kinaschuk (Calgary, Alberta), senior Conor Donovan (Nahant, Mass./Swampscott) and senior Cole Brennan (Sussex, N.J./ Pomfret School) each extended their point streaks to four games.
 
 
The Records:
VTSU Castleton: 1-3-1 (1-2-0 LEC)
Southern Maine: 4-1-0 (3-0-0 LEC)
 
Series History:
Castleton leads the series 18-16-2. The teams split last season's series with the Spartans earning a 5-0 win and the Huskies responding with a 5-2 victory the next day.
 
The Goaltenders:
VTSU: Charlie Watson (1-1-1), 59:55, six goals allowed, 20 saves
Southern Maine: Loic Morin (4-1-0): 60:00, four goals allowed, 33 saves
 
How It Happened:

• Five goals were scored in the first period as each side came out firing. Aucoin opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the year with Simopoulos and junior Owen Drummey (Falmouth, Maine) assisting. The Spartans tied the game three minutes later on power play goal by Emmett McHardy before taking a 2-1 lead on a David Coyle goal.
• Southern Maine tied the game at 2-2 when Hoover redirected a shot by Kinashuck into the net for his first goal as a Husky during a power play. Vinsion then scored on the rebound of a shot by freshman Jordan Bezio (North Hampton, N.H.) to make the score 3-2 with less than five minutes left in the period.
• The action slowed down in the second period as just one goal was scored. Castleton tied the game with five seconds remaining in the period when a loose puck found its way into the net. Tyler Burke was credited with the goal.
• Hagan scored on a pass from Donovan to break the 3-3 tie with just over 12 minutes left in the game. Aucoin then added a second goal after picking up the puck after Simopoulos knocked it away from a Castleton skater.
• Castleton added a fourth goal 14:14 into the period from Luke Chakrabarti but Hoover gave the Huskies room to work with by cleaning up the rebound of a shot by Brennan to make the score 6-4 with a little of two minutes left.
• The Spartans pulled their goalie in the final minute, but the Huskies were able to hold on for the win.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies were outshot 37-26 but made the most of their chances.
• Castleton led 41-25 in faceoff wins.
• Brennan and senior Kadin Ilott (Kenora, Ontario/Beaver Brae Secondary School) each blocked three shots for the Huskies. Castleton led 13-10 in blocked shots.
• Castleton was 1-for-3 on the power play and the Huskies went 1-for-2.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host another LEC team from Vermont, Norwich University, tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm in the USM Ice Arena.