NEW HAVEN, CT. – The Colonels, ranked 14 in the nation in the latest USCHO.com poll, got off to a rocky start against Albertus Magnus on Sunday afternoon.
 
After allowing four goals in the first period, the Colonels switched to senior goaltender Nico Pidro (Cannonsburg, PA/), who pitched a shut out for the remaining two periods of action while the offense put together six unanswered goals to earn the Colonels (6-0) a 6-4 victory over the host Albertus Magnus (0-4)
 
The Falcons forced junior goaltender Michael Paterson-Jones (Baldwinsville, NY/) out of the game after four goals on seven shots in the first 14:47 minutes of play.  The offense came alive late in the first period to start the comeback, with sophomore forward Jimmy O'Kane (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame Prep) striking first at 15:55 with assists from senior forward Donald Flynn (Randolph, NJ/) and senior defender Dylan Kuipers (Andover, NJ/).  Senior forward Tyler Barrow (Massapequa, NY/Saint Anthony's) worked together with senior forward Nick Fea (Oak Ridge, NJ/) and Flynn on a late first period power play to cut the Falcons advantage to 4-2 at 17:59.
 
Neither team's goaltender budged at even strength in the second frame, with the lone goal coming early at 1:06 off of a power play thanks to Fea with an assist from Barrow.  The Colonels would not let a relatively cold second period blunt their momentum, as Barrow recorded another power play goal at 1:34 in the third frame with Flynn and Fea assisting.  Kuipers would get an even-strength game-winning goal at 16:50 with help from Barrow and senior forward Tyler Dill (South Lake Tahoe, CA/), before senior forward Phil Erickson (Eau Claire, WI/) put the game on ice at 19:45, taking advantage of a Falcons empty net.
 
Pidro stood tall in goal for the Colonels, recording 20 saves in a lockdown effort to earn his first victory of the season.  Falcons goaltender Logan Bateman proved his mettle in goal as well, recording 32 saves and only allowing two even strength goals.  Albertus Magnus recorded 28 penalty minutes, which turned into nine power plays and three power play goals for the Colonels.  The Navy and Gold outshot the Falcons 38-27, while edging them out on faceoffs 40-37.
 
The Colonels return to conference action as they head out to Annville, Pa. to play Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) foe Lebanon Valley next Friday at 7:30 p.m.  They then return home for their first puck drop at the Toyota SportsPlex for a 5:00 p.m. battle with Arcadia University next Saturday.