BOSTON — Northeastern’s 2024-25 campaign began with a test of patience, resilience, and an eventual burst of offense, as the Huskies claimed a 5-1 victory over Stonehill in their home opener at Matthews Arena.
The contest was highly contested for two periods, but a dominant third period from the Huskies allowed them to pull away and secure a convincing win.
“The big takeaway for me is how we finished the game, and I know our guys are feeling good about that third period,” said head coach Jerry Keefe.
It didn’t take long for the action to heat up. Stonehill, determined to spoil Northeastern’s season debut, struck first when defenseman Evan Orr fired a shot past Northeastern goaltender Cameron Whitehead at 12:56 of the opening period. Assisted by Kyle Heath and Jake Cady, Orr’s goal briefly silenced the crowd as the Skyhawks took a 1-0 lead.
However, Northeastern wasted no time in responding. Just 24 seconds later, senior forward Christophe Tellier leveled the score at 1-1, receiving a slick pass from Jack Williams and beating Stonehill goalie Connor Androlewicz. The quick equalizer sparked life back into the Huskies, and from there, the battle was on.
The first period was defined by tight defense and physical play from both teams, but neither could establish a sustained offensive rhythm. It wasn’t until the second period that Northeastern began to find their footing, though Stonehill continued to push back, keeping the game close.
Northeastern broke the deadlock early in the second period when sophomore defenseman Vinny Borgesi showcased his offensive skills. With just over two minutes gone in the period, Borgesi capitalized on a pass from Nick Rhéaume, blasting a shot from the blue line that sailed past Androlewicz and gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Borgesi’s offensive instincts made the difference on the play, and head coach Jerry Keefe was quick to praise the young defenseman’s impact.
“He can break guys down, [he has great] skating ability and deception,” Keefe said after the game. “His mobility on the blue line makes him really dangerous. He made some big-time plays for us tonight, and we needed them.”
Despite Borgesi’s go-ahead goal, Stonehill refused to back down. The Skyhawks, while struggling to create high-quality chances, remained within striking distance, and the game stayed tense as both teams traded opportunities throughout the second period. Northeastern’s defense, anchored by Borgesi and senior Jake Boltmann, held firm, while Whitehead made key stops to preserve the Huskies’ narrow lead.
As the third period began, the game still felt very much in the balance. But just as they had done in the first period, Northeastern struck quickly and decisively—only this time, they didn’t stop. Five minutes into the final frame, junior forward Jack Williams found himself in the right place at the right time, receiving a pass from Dylan Hryckowian and firing it into the net to give Northeastern a 3-1 advantage.
The goal opened the floodgates. Less than a minute later, sophomore Ryan McGuire joined the action, finishing off a play initiated by Borgesi and assistant captain Jackson Dorrington. In a flash, the Huskies were up 4-1, and the energy inside Matthews Arena surged.
Stonehill, stunned by the rapid onslaught, struggled to regain their footing. Northeastern, meanwhile, continued to press their advantage. Just over a minute after McGuire’s tally, Williams struck again for his second goal of the night, this time set up by Hryckowian and Tellier. With the score now 5-1, the Huskies had effectively put the game out of reach, capping off a dominant third period with three goals in just over two minutes.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Williams said after the game. “I think we ground them down in the first two periods, and it started to show in the third. They got a little bit tired, and we capitalized on some opportunities.”
Williams’ leadership and timely scoring were pivotal to the Huskies’ success, but he wasn’t the only standout. Whitehead, in his first start of the season, made 17 saves, including several key stops to prevent Stonehill from gaining any momentum. Despite the scoreline, the game could have been much closer had it not been for Whitehead’s sharp play, especially in the first two periods.
“Yeah, he made a lot of really tough saves,” Keefe said of his goaltender. “There were some quick turnovers right in front of him where he had to react quickly. He had to be sharp tonight, and especially in a game like that when it was close through two periods, he made a couple of huge saves for us.”
By the time the final horn sounded, Northeastern had outshot Stonehill 35-18, with much of that margin coming in the decisive third period.
“We can build on that third period,” Keefe said. “That’s the way we want to play, and I know our guys are feeling good about how we finished the game.”
As the Huskies celebrate their season-opening victory, they will also be closely monitoring the status of star transfer defenseman Jo Lemay, who is currently sidelined due to injury. Head coach Jerry Keefe provided an optimistic update after the game:, “It’s not a long-term issue; I would say it’s week to week,” Keefe said. “Maybe a possibility for this weekend, and if it’s not this weekend, hopefully the following weekend.”
Northeastern will return to the ice on Friday, October 19, when they visit the reigning national champions, the University of Denver. Matty Wasserman, Zach Lyons, and Daisy Roberts will have live coverage of the contest at 9:00 p.m.