PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 10 ranked Wilkes University men's ice hockey team were upended by No. 15 University of New England at the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic this afternoon, falling to the Nor'easters 7-2.

Wilkes falls to 9-4-0 on the year, while UNE improve to 8-5-1 overall.

UNE opened the scoring in the third minute with a goal from Drew Olivieri, taking the early lead. Wilkes then equalized with less than two minutes left in the opening frame, as Max Cocchi (Ludlow, MA) buried the individual effort.

The Nor'easters took firm control of the game in the second period, scoring four unanswered goals in the frame, and scoring twice more in the third. With less than ten seconds remaining in the game, Lorenzo Marcolin (Saratoga Springs, NY) scored on the power play, assisted by Tyler Boudreau (Edmonton, AB), to get the Colonels on the board again before time expired.

Cocchi led the Colonels with four shots. Carter Jordan (Fort Collins, CO) led from the faceoff circle going 10-14, with Cocchi just one behind going 9-15. Mason Vonk (West Olive, MI) led the team in blocks with 11. In goal, Jack Perna (Sykesville, MD) made 19 saves in 31 minutes of play and was given the decision. Anthony Del Tufo (Livingston, NJ/Morristown-Beard School) also saw his first playing time as a Colonel, making 13 saves in 28 minutes of play.

Ryan Kuzmich and Nathan Chickering led UNE with two goals each, while Dominic Murphy had two assists. Olivieri and Chickering led the team with six shots. In goal, Stefan Carney made 26 saves.

Wilkes will play in the consolation game of the tournament tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., facing Wentworth Institute of Technology.