EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (November 5, 2023) – For the most part, it was a sleepy Sunday night game on Long Island, as the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team and Long Island University combined for just 38 shots, 23-15 in favor of SHU. Isaiah Fox broke a long-standing 1-1 tie with just 4:16 to play, to lift LIU to a 2-1 victory in the non-conference affair.
 
"It was a really tough loss tonight," said head coach C.J. Marottolo after the game. "Our execution wasn't where it needed to be, and I think a lot of that had to do with how hard and how structured LIU played."
 
The two sides traded shorthanded goals in the first period. LIU (4-5-0) opened the scoring at 12:22, after Noah Kane collected a turnover in his own end and jump-started a 2-on-1 rush the other way. From the right side, Kane took a low shot in search of a rebound and got it. Nolan Welsh was on the charge on the left side and quickly popped it home for his second goal of the season.
 
SHU (3-6-0) had the answer at 17:11. Dante Fantauzzi (North York, Ontario) deflected a pass to Braeden Tuck (Calgary, Alberta), who kickstarted a 2-on-1 rush the other way down the right wing. Once in the offensive zone, he feathered a saucer pass over to Liam Izyk (Blackie, Alberta), who one-timed home his third of the campaign.
 
Those were the only two goals of the game for much of the remainder of the evening. The game stayed stuck at 1-1 into the final five minutes of regulation, when LIU struck for the win. Amid a scramble in front of the Sacred Heart net, Fox got enough of his stick on the puck to force it past Chase Clark (Williamsville, N.Y.) for the former's first of the year.
 
SHU would get Clark to the bench for the extra attacker in the final two minutes, but could put only two more shots on Brandon Perrone (2-3-0), who turned them both away to finish his 22-save night and close out the victory. Clark (3-5-0) made 13 saves against 15 shots in defeat.
 
"Going forward, we just need to learn how to grind out these ugly games," continued Marottolo. "Our hearts were in the right place, just our execution wasn't where it needed to be. Hopefully we'll learn from this, move on, and focus on Canisius."
 
The Pios are back in action next weekend, when they host Canisius in an Atlantic Hockey series on Nov. 10-11. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. both nights at Martire Family Arena in Fairfield.