RYE, N.Y. – Senior captain Anton Racklin (Gothenburg, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL)) netted a pair of third-period goals to help propel the Manhattanville College men's hockey team past Western New England on Tuesday afternoon by the score of 2-1 in non-conference action at Playland Ice Casino.
 
After yielding a first-period goal, the Valiants came on strong in the third period as they outshot the Golden Bears by a 12-2 margin. Racklin evened the game at one with a goal just 3:32 into the period, and later scored the game-winning marker with just over five minutes left in regulation.
 
In goal, senior Brian Fleming (Saint John, N.B./Northern Cyclones (AJHL)) registered 19 saves including 11 in the second period as he held the Golden Bears at bay after yielding the first-period strike. Taking the loss for Western New England was netminder Tim Carr, who gave up two goals while making 35 saves in the afternoon contest.
 
Manhattanville had a pair of opportunities in the early going of the first period, but both power-play chances were thwarted by Carr and the Golden Bear penalty kill unit. Western New England found the back of the net with 14:02 gone by in the period as Joe Budnick scored on an unassisted strike.
 
In the second period, Western New England was given three power-play chances and the visitors were able to get six shots through the defense, all of which were stopped by Fleming.
 
With the game heading to the third period and Manhattanville still trailing, Racklin evened the game on an unassisted goal when he scooped the puck up at center ice, skated into the zone and fired a shot over the shoulder of Carr.
 
With 13:33 gone by in the third period, the Valiants were given a power play chance once again. The senior All-American capitalized with the go-ahead goal, with assists credited to classmate Eric McClure (Mitchell, Ont./Thorold Blackhawks (OJHL)) and freshman Stephen Gaul (Downers Grove, Ill./Springfield Pics (USPHL)). For Gaul, it was his fourth career point in just six collegiate games.
 
Final stats saw Manhattanville win 38-of-65 in the faceoff department, while the Valiants finished 1-for-4 on their power play chances. The team nearly doubled up Western New England in terms of shots as well, as the Valiants outshot their guests by a 37-20 margin through 60 minutes of play.
 
Manhattanville (2-3-1, 1-3-1 ECAC West) will next travel to the Rutland Herald Invitational for the third straight season, beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. when the team takes on host Castleton State. The Valiants will then play against either Brockport or Tufts, in the championship or consolation game on Saturday, depending on the outcomes of Friday's contests.