Sparkill, N.Y. - (2/18/2020) – Chestnut Hill College felt some early pressure in today's contest at St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) as the Spartans posted 4-3 first-quarter advantage. But, Scarlet and Gold spirit rose to the occasion with second (5-1) and third (9-1) quarter spreads that reinvigorated the Griffins for a 21-6 triumph. Junior attack Carson Rees (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) emerged as the Scarlet and Gold's top scorer with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists), while his line mate, junior J.R. Howell (East Meadow, N.Y.) netted a team-high five goals in his six-point (5 goals, 1 assist) performance.
 
STAC (0-1) scored on their first possession of the game (1-0, 14:23 1QTR) and twice more after a Chestnut Hill College (2-0) tally from sophomore defenseman P.J. Spernal (Jackson, N.J.) to lead the Griffins by 3-1 spread with 8:42 remaining in the first quarter. A pair of Howell goals (7:02, 1:52 1QTR) got the Scarlet and Gold back on track, bookending the fourth Spartan score (2:52) of the frame to cut the difference to 4-3 for the initial break.
 
In the second quarter, the Chestnut Hill College defense bared down, limiting STAC to a single score (6-5, 4:44) amidst five Griffin goals. Junior attack Maurice Kelly (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta) scored the first Scarlet and Gold goal of the period, tying the contest at 4-4 with his unassisted goal at 14:44. Later, junior attack Scott Wilden (Wexford, Pa.) broke the stalemate (5-4, 8:52) and started the Chestnut Hill College landslide. He would score once more (7-5, 3:04) in the quarter and Howell, twice (5:09, 0:47) to give the Griffins an 8-5 lead heading to halftime. After intermission, the Scarlet and Gold continued to separate from the Spartans, advancing their position to 17-6 at the end of the third quarter and 21-6 at the conclusion of the affair.
 
Senior attack Tyler Senatore (West Haverstraw, N.Y) took 12 of STAC's 29 shots and scored half of their six goals. He also recorded an assist, three ground balls, and a caused turnover. Senior midfielder Tom Solimando (Washington Township, N.J.) was his greatest compliment with a goal, five ground balls, and a caused turnover. In goal, senior Ryan Guild (New Windsor, N.Y.) played a majority of the minutes (44:20) and recorded 14 saves in the loss (0-1).

In addition to his four goals and three assists, Rees also recorded seven ground balls. Meanwhile, Howell added four ground balls to his five goals and an assist. Wilden (4), Kelly (2), and junior midfielder Ben Revak (Aston, Pa.) (2) also recorded multiple tallies; the first of the group offered two ground balls and a caused turnover in excess of his four scores. Junior Stephen Lopuzzo (Ringoes, N.J.) won a 22-of-26 (.846) faceoff sans secured five ground balls, while sophomore Jake Miller (Columbine, Colo.) earned his first collegiate victory (1-0) with five saves and a pair of ground balls.
 
Chestnut Hill College returns to Victory Field #1 this Saturday, February 22, when they host #4 Mercyhurst University in an 11:00 a.m. contest.