Nashua, N.H. (October 27, 2023) - Matthew Davies netted an opening night hattrick to power Alvernia University (1-0) to a 4-3 comeback victory over Rivier University (0-1) in a men's ice hockey matchup Friday night at Rivier. 

The Golden Wolves were down as much as 3-1 in the second period but tallied two goals in the second period and Davies netted the only goal of the third period to lead Alvernia to a 4-3 victory in the season opener. 

The Golden Wolves got on the board first in the opening 30 seconds of the game when Logan vande Meerakker and Robert Pizzey assisted Isaac Chapman to put Alvernia up 1-0 after just 20 seconds of hockey. 

Rivier equalized just over five minutes later when Damon Kiyawasew netted an unassisted goal to tie the game at one with just under 15 minutes remaining in the period. 

The Golden Wolves and the Raiders continued to fire shots at each other's goal with the Raiders sending 12 shots at the Alvernia net but Alvernia's Jacob Stern saved seven of the 12 shots to deny the Raiders a second. 

Alvernia fired eight shots at the Raiders net but could not find the back of the net as Rivier goalie Luke Newell saved four of the eight shots as the game headed into the first intermission locked at one. 

Rivier grabbed the lead just over five minutes into the second period when Devon Jolley and Tyler Duderstadt assisted Alfred Rotiroti to make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Raiders. 

The Raiders extended their lead to three just 34 seconds later when Nicolas Paolucci found the back of the net thanks to assists from Cormac Hayes and Duderstadt to make it a 3-1 contest with 14 minutes to go in the second period. 

The Golden Wolves responded two minutes later when Jordan Gagnon and Jason Finan connected with Matthew Davies who fired his shot into the back of the net to cut the Raiders lead to one, 3-2. 

Alvernia found an equalizer with just over eight minutes left in the period when Daives netted his second goal of the night thanks to an assist by vande Meerakker, his second of the night, to make it 3-3. 

The Golden Wolves sent 14 shots at the Raiders net in the final eight minutes of the second period but could not find the back of the net as Alvernia and Rivier heading into the final intermission locked at three. 

The Golden Wolves threatened early in the third period when Kyle Patton hit the pipe on a breakaway to deny Alvernia and keep the game tied at three. 

Alvernia then took the lead just under nine minutes into the final period when Fraiser Dodd dropped the puck back to Davies who ripped his shot past Rivier's Newell and into the back of the net to tally his third goal of the game and put the Golden Wolves up 4-3. 

Rivier would send five shots at the Alvernia net in the final ten minutes of the game with two going on target but Stern was there to deny the Raiders and secure the 4-3 victory for the Golden Wolves. 

Stern tallied 24 saves in net for Alvernia and earned the win in his collegiate debut. 

Davies led the Golden Wolves with three goals,Chapman added one and led with three shots on goal. Vande Meerakker added two assists and Finan, Gagnon, Dodd and Pizzey all recorded assists for Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves are back in action tomorrow for game two of the series against the Raiders at 7:30 PM.