By Ben Blevins
Contributing Writer

Saint Anselm won its first Northeast- 10 Conference ice hockey championship with a 7-3 victory over their crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire at Sullivan Arena on Saturday, March 5.

The Hawks, 18-8-1, scored five goals in the first two periods and led 6-0 before the Penmen, 18-7-3, got on the board.

Saint Anselm scored two goals to jump ahead 2-0 just more than seven minutes into the period. Nick Sacca sent in a rebound off a shot by Brian Dobler for Saint A’s first goal.

Bostjan Kolaric then fired a shot past the Penmen goalie, Martin Stehl, 15 seconds later to give the Hawks a two-goal lead.

Danny Ohlson, Andrew Gartman and Shane Masotta each found the back of the net to increase the Hawks’ lead to 5-0 after two periods.

In the third period, the Penmen got on the board with a goal by Josh Douglas to cut the lead to 6-1, after Dobler scored earlier in the frame.

Derek Evjenth lit the lamp for the Hawks to make it, 7-1, before this year’s NE-10 Player of the Year, Pat Doherty, added two late goals to account for the final.

Northeast-10 Goalie of the Year Jim Merola made 13 saves and allowed one goal before coming out of the game with 5:49 left.

Stehl finished with 46 saves for the Penmen.