PITTSBURGH, PA – Ben Stefanini (Framingham, MA) recorded his first career hat trick and added an assist to figure into all of the goals to lead the Wilkes University men's ice hockey team to a 4-2 United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) victory over host Chatham University Saturday afternoon at the Hunt Armory.
 
With the win Wilkes split the season series with the Cougars improving its overall record to 4-7-1 and 2-5 in UCHC play. Chatham dropped to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in league contests.
 
Stefanini opened the scoring for Wilkes when he notched his first goal of the game at the 17:54 mark of the first period thanks to an assist from Cam Lowe (Lancaster, MA).
 
Chatham tied the game at 1-1 when Andrew Warhoftig scored 2:22 into the second period. The Colonels responded just before the second period ended as Stefanini found the back of the net off helpers from Jimmy O'Kane (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame Prep) and Joe Johnson (Midland, MI) to give Wilkes a 2-1 advantage after two.
 
Stefanini scored his third goal of the game late in the third period drilling a shot off a two-on-one with a pass from Matt Carlson (Delmar, NY) at the 15:07 mark with Christian Bloomquist also assisting. Jimmy O'Kane (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame Prep) added an empty net goal with :36 left before Chatham tacked on a goal with :14 remaining to end the scoring.
 
Each team finished with 33 shots in the game. The Colonels dominated the faceoff circle winning 42-of-66 attempts.
 
Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda, CA) made 31 saves to record his third win of the year for Wilkes.
 
Wilkes returns home Saturday when the Colonels host Alvernia University in a MAC/UCHC matchup at 5:00 p.m.at the Toyota SportsPlex.