Milford, CT – Rocco Molinaro (Deerborn, MI) and Barclay Folk (Westbank, BC) scored a pair of goals each, leading the Pioneer men’s ice hockey team to a decisive 6-3 victory over Atlantic Hockey rival American International College on Friday night.

The game may have started late due to transportation issues for the Yellow Jackets, but the Pioneer offence was ready to go. Molinaro scored the first goal just 1:52 into the contest during SHU’s first powerplay to give Sacred Heart an early 1-0 lead. Freshman Frederic Harland (Rosemere, QC) picked up his first career point with an assist on the play.

The Pioneers would extend their lead to 2-0 when junior Chris Connerty (Rayham, MA) re-directed a Drew Sanders (Modesto, CA) centering pass past AIC goalkeeper Frank Novello 8:15 into the opening period. The Pioneers would end the period out-shooting the ‘Jackets 17-9.

The Pioneers would once again get out of the block quickly, as Peter Giatrelis (Wallingford, CT) scored the first goal of a high-scoring second period just 2:08 into the stanza. Peter Ferraro (Pleasantville, NY) picked up his second assist of the season on the score.

With the score 3-0, AIC would rip off three consecutive goals in under four minutes to quickly tie the contest up at 3-3. Mark Pavli scored a power-play goal, and Jeff Valdes and Jeremy Leroux would add even strength tallies to quickly put AIC back into the contest.

The Pioneers, unfazed by the quick Yellow Jacket retaliation, scored twice in the span of two minutes to put AIC away. Molinaro scored his second goal of the contests, the eventual game-winner, set up by Garrett Larson (Rycroft, AB) and Noel Henck (Long Beach, NY) to give SHU a 4-3 lead. Shortly thereafter Erik Roos (Milford, CT) sent home a wicked slap shot on the penalty kill to re-establish a two-goal Sacred Heart lead.

Folk would add his second goal midway through the third period to cap off the scoring.

Sophomore goaltender Jason Smith (St. Lambert, QC) made 22 saves in earning a victory in his first start of the season. Novello made 39 stops for the ‘Jackets.

The Pioneers return to action Sunday afternoon, as they continue their early-season conferences clashes, with Bentley in Waltham, MA. Face off is at 4:00 PM.