By Kurt Svoboda
Contributing Writer

MANCHESTER – Saint Anselm started off the second semester with a decisive 8-2 victory over Franklin Pierce College in a Northeast-10 Conference hockey game at Sullivan Arena on Monday, Jan. 3.

The win expands Saint Anselm’s best-ever start to 8-0-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the NE-10. Franklin Pierce falls to 3-5 overall, 1-3 in the conference.

Saint Anselm blitzed the visiting Ravens with three goals in a span of 44 seconds midway through the first period, including two in a span of seven seconds, eventually jumping out to a comfortable 4-0 lead. In the flurry, freshman Shane Masotta, sophomore Brett Smith and sophomore Josh Hechter all found the back of the net, with Hechter’s goal marking the 50th point of his young career.

FPC cut the score to 4-2 early in the third period on a goal from Jason Pierce at the 1:30 mark, but the Hawks scored four unanswered to win going away.

For Saint Anselm, Mike Foley and Smith finished with two goals apiece. Smith’s first-period goal proved to be the game-winner and he added a late power play goal at the 14:08 mark of the third period. He also added an assist on the evening.

Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Brian Dobler dished out three assists. Senior netminder Steve Maestranzi stopped 19 shots for his second win of the season for the Hawks.

Pierce finished with a goal and an assist for FPC, as did Ben Reynolds. Goaltender Robert Arduini turned back 56 shots in a losing effort.

Saint Anselm returns to action on Friday when the Hawks host Skidmore College in a 7 p.m. ECAC East contest.