BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) team went 1-1 on the opening weekend of the season, falling to Siena, 3-2, on Saturday before coming from behind to knock off Fairfield, 4-3, Sunday evening.
On Saturday, Siena jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period, before the Hawks' senior captain Jack Woods (Braintree, Mass.) scored unassisted, allowing the Hawks to take a 2-1 deficit into the second period. Sophomore Michael Backus (Portland, Conn.) tied the score at 2-2 midway through the second period, with Woods picking up the assist.
In the final frame, Siena tallied a goal with eight minutes remaining to secure the win. The Hawks did have an opportunity with a 6-4 win in the final minute of play, with an empty net, but were unable to score, as they fell. Junior Claden Daubeney (Madbury, N.H.) made 33 saves of the 36 shots faced.
On Sunday, the Hawks had to come back to down the Stags. Fairfield struck 45 seconds into the game, but the Hawks answered in the second period with Jake Lapierre (Dover, N.H.) knotting the game up after a face-off win by Kam Pierce (Lancaster, Mass.). Later in the period, Fairfield scored two goals 45 seconds apart to take a 3-1 lead into the third.
Backus closed the gap with a goal off assists from Mitch Farrell (Burrillville, R.I.) and Sinjin Doelitzsch (Santa Clarita, Calif.). With six minutes remaining in the third period, Joey Bisson (Shelton, Conn.) tied it up to force overtime. After a five-minute 3-on-3 session couldn't resolve the tilt, the contest went into a shootout.
In the shootout, Bisson tallied the first score in the period he fired over the goalie's glove, Nick Fasano (Braintree, Mass.) then tallied a goal in the top corner to take a 2-0 lead, while Colby LaSalle (Trumbull, Conn.) stopped both of the shootout attempts.
In the game, LaSalle made 43 saves, earning player of the game honors.
Roger Williams (1-1 ACHA) hosts UConn for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 pm at Portsmouth Abbey. The Hawks will then be off until Friday, Oct. 10, when they host Merrimack at the Abbey.
