MUSTANGS ADVANCE TO FIFTH CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, Junior Brett Conley scores four with four assists

Mount Ida College junior Brett Conley (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) led the number one seeded Mustangs with four goals and four assists defeating fourth seeded Maine Maritime Academy 14-3 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) semifinal action this Saturday. MIC heads into their fifth straight championship appearance facing Castleton State for the fifth year in a row. They would improve to 12-5 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the NAC stretching their career record to 37-0 against league opponents. Maine Maritime would drop to 5-7 on the year, 3-5 in the NAC competing in their first playoff appearance since 2006.

Freshman Paul Battipaglia (Clinton, CT/Morgan) would net the first goal of the contest for the Mustangs on a dish by Conley making it 1-0 in the opening two minutes. It was a slow start for the hosts high powered offense, they would eventually tally two more scores both from the stick of freshman Dan Harrington (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) making it 3-0 MIC in the opening of the second quarter.

The Mariners would finally get on the board with 10:35 showing in the second set on a goal by senior Nate Bolduc (Farmington, ME) cutting it to 3-1 in favor of the home team.

Both squads would exchange scores including Conley’s first for the Mustangs from Battapaglia while MMA would get an unassisted goal by freshman Christopher Keiley (Holliston, MA) making it 4-2 hosts with 6:20 remaining before the break.

Mount Ida would get two quick goals before the halfway point with Conley and Battapaglia netting one a piece off assists from junior Leo Shidler (Peabody, MA/Peabody) and freshman Matt Savage (Peabody, MA/Peabody). This would give the hosts the 6-2 advantage heading into the third stanza.

The Mariners would tally their final goal of the contest with 8:17 in the third by freshman Wade Mondoux (North Berwick, ME) cutting the lead in half at 6-3. It would be all but over at this point, with no signs of a comeback by the visitors.

The Mustangs would pour on their familiar offensive barrage scoring the last eight goals of the contest. Conley would net two along with one a piece from Battapaglia, Savage, and senior John Lightbown (Melrose, MA/Melrose).

Freshman Frank Rozio (Clinton, CT/Morgan) tallied two scores along with sophomore John Perez (Dorchester, MA/Wayland) netting one giving the Mustangs the 14-3 victory. Shidler would notch three assists along with Lightbown and freshman Breadan Draper (Lexington, KY/Lexington Catholic/Nazareth) dishing out one a piece.

Sophomore goaltender Matt Vernik (Bethany, CT/Amity Regional) would stop 14 shots between the pipes for the Mustangs while Mariner keeper senior Patrick Jones (Kennebunk, ME) saved eight.

The Mustangs will host the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship game this coming Saturday, May 3, 2008 against Castleton State with the opening face-off coming at 1:00 p.m.