Men’s Ice Hockey Exits NCAA Tournament with Round 1 Loss to Wisconsin-Stout

MENOMONIE, Wis. - The Anna Maria College men's ice hockey team was defeated 4-1 by the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night at the Fanetti Community Center.

The loss brings an end to the most successful season in Anna Maria program history, highlighted by the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance, a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship, a MASCAC Tournament championship, and an overall record of 20-6-2.

The AMCATS found themselves in a 2-0 hole after the opening period of the NCAA Quarterfinals and surrendered another goal early in the second, trailing 3-0 just 1:30 into the period. Anna Maria responded less than six minutes later when Liam Wells assisted Lucas de la Salle, who finished the scoring play to put the AMCATS on the board and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Anna Maria battled hard in the final period, firing eight shots on goal while trying to even the score. Goaltender Matthew Hennessey kept the AMCATS within striking distance, making nine saves in the period to hold off the Blue Devils. Ultimately, an empty-net goal late in the contest sealed the win for the No. 5-ranked Blue Devils and ended Anna Maria's season.

Hennessey played the entire game in net for the AMCATS, making 30 saves on the night, while Wisconsin-Stout held a 34-22 advantage in shots on goal, and a 35-27 advantage on faceoffs.

Wisconsin-Stout will advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals and travel to face Utica on March 21 at 7 p.m.

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