Box Score  | Season Stats | Watch N. Stevens' Highlight Reel Goal | Press Conference | Highlights

BOSTON – With the score tied at one midway through the third period, sophomore Nolan Stevens put his talents on display, stickhandling through three defenders before beating Colgate goaltender Charlie Finn five-hole to lift the Northeastern men's ice hockey team (1-0-0) to a 2-1 victory over the Raiders on Saturday night at Matthews Arena.
 
The eventual game-winner began when Stevens collected a breakout feed from Colton Saucerman in the neutral zone before Stevens did the rest. Stevens crossed the blue line before losing a Raider defenseman twice, then beating Finn with 8:12 to play in regulation.
 
Nolan's brother John also scored for Northeastern, which won its season opener for the third time in four seasons. Derick Roy got the nod in goal for the Huskies, making 16 saves in the win as NU outshot the Raiders 43-17 in the game.
 
Goal descriptions:
• Northeastern drew first blood with 7:51 remaining in the second period when John Stevens redirected a shot from Eric Williams at the point. After Dylan Sikura won a puck battle below the goal line and dished up to Jarrett Fennell at the point, Fennell slid it across to his defensive partner Williams. Williams let let a blast go from the point that Stevens tipped past Finn for his first of the season.
• Colgate struck back two minutes later as Tyson Spink beat Roy down low for his first of the year. Willie Brooks began the play with a shot on net that Roy steered aside. Tylor Spink, however, crashed the net and gathered the rebound before finding Tyson Spink in the slot for the goal.
• Nolan Stevens put Northeastern on top for good with just over eight minutes to play with a highlight reel goal, taking the puck through the neutral zone and through three defensemen before beating Finn. WATCH
 
Stats of the game:
• Jason Cotton, Adam Gaudette, Lincoln Griffin and Williams all made their collegiate debuts on Saturday night, while Sam Kurker dressed in his first game as a Husky after transferring from Boston University.
 
• Williams recorded his first collegiate point with an assist on John Stevens' second period goal.
 
• Three of Northeastern five points on the night came off the sticks of defensemen (Fennell, Saucerman, Williams).
 
Up next:
Northeastern will host Bentley on Friday night in the frontend of a home-and-home set with the Falcons. Puck drop at Matthews Arena is slated for 7 p.m.