Seven different players scored for Farmingdale State College (M3) as it beat University of New Haven 8-3 on Friday night at Islanders Iceworks. Luke Pavone made 35 saves on 38 shots in Farmingdale’s home opener, and the win lifted the hosts to 4-1-0 while New Haven fell to 1-3-0.
New Haven started fast and spent the early minutes pressing in the Farmingdale end, but Donald Pace converted first. With 18:00 left in the first, Pace finished a forechecking sequence by deflecting a point shot, with Mark DellaVecchia drawing the assist. Jackson Tomforde, who entered with no goals this season, made it 2-0 with 7:21 left in the period by jumping on a loose puck.
Farmingdale scored four times in the second period, rarely relying on long stretches of zone time and instead striking off quick entries and rushes. Noah Lavoie, who came in with 4 goals and 4 assists in four games, carried the puck end to end for a power-play goal with 15:03 left. Tyler Wodicka added the eventual game-winner 41 seconds later, assisted by George Truicko and Michael Malandruccolo. Evan Fassett answered for New Haven, scoring after repeated whacks at rebounds. Michael Goldstein and Tomforde, with his second of the night, restored the gap before Michael Madera scored with seven seconds left in the period to send New Haven into the third trailing 6-2.
Pavone turned away Madera on a breakaway, and Farmingdale scored on the rush that followed. That sequence repeated itself through the night. Malandruccolo, who had no points entering the game, used the extra space during 4-on-4 play to bury a rebound with 14:23 left, bringing the home crowd to its feet. Mark Rosa replied on the power play with 11:49 remaining, deflecting a wraparound attempt, before Christopher D’Andrea finished a transition rush into an open net with 8:31 left for the final margin.
Madera led New Haven with a goal and two assists and generated chances all night, and Rosa added a goal and an assist. Logan Toussaint made 31 saves on 39 shots in the loss. Along with Lavoie, Malandruccolo, Wodicka and Pace each finished with a goal and an assist for Farmingdale, and Jaden Grillo set up two goals.
Farmingdale returns to the ice Saturday night against Hofstra, and New Haven’s next opponent is Fairfield.
