PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - Senior forward Mike Mallette (Chepachet, RI) scored the winning goal with 1:12 remaining in the third period as host Salve Regina posted a 4-3 victory over Western New England College in a back-and-forth ECAC Northeast men's hockey contest Saturday night (Feb. 16).

WNEC had tied the game a short time earlier on a power play goal by junior forward Dean Smith (Warwick, RI) at the 15:59 mark. Senior defenseman Nick Klassen (Parker, CO) and junior defenseman Joe Balog (Ludlow, MA) earned the assists. This was Smith's second goal of the season.

SRU led 1-0 after the opening period following a goal by freshman forward Brett Pimental (East Falmouth, MA) at 15:05 with assists from junior forward Justin Pethick (North Branford, CT) and freshman defenseman Kevin Sullivan (North Branford, CT).

The Golden Bears tied the game when freshman forward Kyle Daly (Auburn, MA) tallied his fourth goal of the season at 9:05 with assists from junior forward Hank Levin (Lido Beach, NY) and senior forward Shawn Longley (Raymiond, ME).

WNEC went ahead just 34 seconds later after senior left wing Nick Sampson (Reading, MA) notched his first goal of the season with assists from junior forward Mike Majesty (Chicago, IL) and Smith.

The Seahawks tied the game for a second time when sophomore forward Tyler Trott (Rehoboth, MA) scored at 13:12 with assists from Mallette and freshman forward Joe Colaianni (Monroe, NY). Trott also had the assist on Mallette's winning shot.

Salve Regina took a 3-2 advantage at 5:40 of the final period when Colaianni scored with assists from Mallette and Trott who both finished the night with three points.

Western New England College freshman goalie Justin Richards (Somers, CT) finished with 40 saves while freshman Pat Enloe (Stuart, FL)stopped 27 shots for Salve Regina.

The Golden Bears, who are 6-2-2 in their last 10 outings, fall to 6-14-2 overall and 4-7-2 in the ECAC Northeast. The Seahawks improve to 8-9-3 and 6-5-2 in the conference.

Western New England College is tied for 10th (with Johnson & Wales) in the ECAC Northeast with 10 points. Plymouth State (12 points) is ninth, Salve Regina (14 points) eighth, and Becker (15 points) seventh.

WNEC plays its final three games of the regular season at home against Nichols (who is third in the league with 22 points) on Tuesday (Feb. 19), Becker on Thursday (Feb. 21), and Johnson & Wales on Tuesday (Feb. 26).

The top eight teams make the ECAC Northeast playoffs, which begin on Saturday, March 1.