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BOSTON – After battling back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the score with 14:06 left in regulation, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team (1-5-0, 0-1-0) saw Vermont (2-4-0, 0-1-0) respond with the eventual game-winner from Dan Senkbeil with 6:14 to play, and the Catamounts hung on to take a 3-2 win from the Huskies on Thursday night at Matthews Arena.
 
Dylan Sikura and John Stevens each scored from the Huskies, with both goals coming two minutes apart during a five-minute power play for Northeastern. Ryan Ruck made 18 stops in his second straight start, while Mike Santaguida had 21 saves for UVM.
 
NU held a slight 23-21 edge in shots on goal in the game, and won 40-of-61 face-offs. Northeastern cashed in twice on the power play, going 2-of-7, while Vermont was held to a 0-of-2 showing.
 
Goal descriptions:
• Despite Northeastern carrying the play for most of the opening 12 minutes of play, Vermont drew first blood with 7:30 to go in the first period on Anthony Petruzzeli's second goal of the year. Tom Forgione began the play by skating the puck along the wall before dishing a pass out to Petruzzeli in the slot for a low shot that beat Ruck five-hole for a 1-0 Catamount lead.
 
• The Catamounts extended their lead to 2-0 five minutes after the Petruzzelli tally, capitalizing on a turnover in the Northeastern zone. After Jarrid Privitera forced a turnover behind the NU goal, his tossed a shot on goal that Ruck steered aside, but Mario Puskarich was able to shovel the puck back to Privitera, who beat Ruck for his fourth of the year.
 
• Northeastern made it a one-goal game during a five-minute power play opportunity after Ori Abramson was called for boarding, and Dylan Sikura took advantage with his first of the season. After taking a feed from Eric Williams below the dot, Sikura sped towards the net and roofed a shot from a tough angle over the shoulder of Santaguida to make it 2-1.
 
• Two minutes later, John Stevens leveled the score at two with a wrist shot from the slot, beating Santaguida over the right shoulder. Matt Benning began the play with a dish to Kevin Roy at the point. Roy then eluded a defender before finding Stevens, who did the rest for his fourth goal of the season.
 
• Vermont took the lead once again with 6:14 to go in the third period on Dan Senkbeil's first goal of the year, skating the puck through the neutral zone before sending a shot on goal that got up and over the shoulder of Ruck for the score.
 
 
Stats of the game:
• Northeastern is now 23-30-6 all-time against Vermont, and 13-13-6 all-time Hockey East openers.
 
• John Stevens scored his fourth goal of the year in just his sixth game. He had four goals in 36 games last season.
 
• Roy's assist moved him into sole possession of 25th in career assists at Northeastern.
 
The road ahead:
Northeastern and Vermont will face-off again on Saturday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m.