The Saints men's hockey team took home ice at Southside Ice Arena tonight (Oct. 16) to play the second game of the series against the Cleary Cougars. AQ topped Cleary by a score of 3-0 last night. AQ put on an offensive display, putting nine shots into the back of the net on 56 shots to take home a 9-3 victory, sweeping the Cleary Cougars in the series. 

Aquinas peppered the net in the first period, putting 29 shots on target against Cleary's goalie. Danny Barry finally put a shot into the back of the net 15 minutes into the first period, placing the shot right over the goalie's left shoulder. The goal was assisted by Michael Fary. The defense was stout, only allowing three shots on target the whole period.

The Saints had a goal that was disallowed with 2:29 left in the first period. Dylan Rumpke had the goal disallowed due to a man in the crease.

AQ blew the doors open in the second period, scoring five goals. The Saints scored two goals in the first two minutes of the second period, starting with David Elford scoring an unassisted shorthanded goal. That goal was followed by Barry scoring at 18:01, assisted by Thomas Davis.

Elford put another shot into the back of the net, going through the goalie's five hole. That goal scored at 13:07 was another shorthanded goal, assisted by Mitchell Hoon. Two minutes later, Mason Stewart put the puck in the back of the net off of a slap shot. Daniel Nelson and Luke Richesin assisted the fifth goal for the Saints.

Elford was penalized with roughing at 10:40 in the second period. Just five seconds later, the Cougars took advantage of the penalty, scoring a powerplay goal to bring the score from 5-1. AQ answered that goal with a powerplay of their own, bringing the score to 6-1 at 5:18 in the second period.

The Saints had 18 shots on goal in the second period to Cleary's five shots on goal. Through two periods, AQ was outshot Cleary 47 to eight.

AQ put three more goals on the board in the third period. Barry picked up his hat trick just four minutes into the period, assisted by Hoon. Davis scored his first goal of the game at the 9:58 mark of the third period. The goal was assisted by Michael Curran. Rumpke scored the ninth goal of the night for the Saints during a five on three advantage. The goal was assisted by McQuade.

Cleary scored two goals in the third period for a final score of 9-3. The Saints outshot the Cougars by a total of 56 shots to 17. Aquinas went two for four on the powerplay to Cleary's one of five.

AQ is back in action next weekend (Oct. 22-23) for its series against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils. Aquinas will be home at Southside Ice Arena on October 22nd at 8:00 PM.