New top line combines for eight points as SFU tops Islanders at home

The line of Brendan Lamont, Mac Colasimone, and Jaret Babych combined for eight points to lead Simon Freaser University to a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Island University in their first home game of 2018 on Friday night at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

The trio have been on fire since being put together on a line after the Christmas Break.

SFU came out of the gate with some much needed energy, dominating the first period, outshooting VIU 14-8 and putting up two goals. Lamont put in the first goal from Mak Barden and Babych nearly five minutes in. Colasimone was rewarded for his gritty work around the net, when he tapped in a sneaky goal up close with less than a minute left in the period.

“I don’t know what that’s all about,” said Lamont. “Even from the first practice, we’re just clicking and then from the first game, we just had something — I don’t know what it is, but we just clicked.”

Just 14 seconds into the second, Garrett Dunlop scored for VIU to cut the lead down the deficit to one-goal. However, SFU answered back with three more goals in the second frame to go into the intermission with a 5-1 lead.

“The bounceback was good, that was just a sign of what our team is made of, of what they’re coming with the next two months,” said SFU head coach Mark Coletta.

Braxton Bilous fired one in from the blue line 3:49 in, with assists going to Colasimone and Lamont. Brandon Tidy put one in on the power play with 2:44 left in the frame, with help from Tyler Basham and Barden. Lamont scored his second of the night late in the frame, with just 13 seconds left. Colasimone and Babych assisted on the play.

SFU continued to dominate the shot clock, putting up 19 shots in the second. Neither team scored in the third period.

SFU finished with 44 shots and went one-for-three on the power play. Lyndon Stanwood made 23 saves on 24 shots (.958 SV%).

Since the Christmas break, SFU has won three straight to put them at 9-5-0 and give them some distance from fourth-placed Vancouver Island.

This week, SFU will look to keep the streak rolling with a pair of tough matchups. On Thursday SFU takes on Trinity Western at the Langley Events Centre looking to inch closer to the Spartans’ first place spot. And on Friday, the Clan return home to face UVic. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM for both games.

Three Stars:

1st Star: SFU #9 Mac Colasimone (1G, 2A, GWG)
2nd Star: SFU #17 Spencer Unger (2G, 1A)
3rd Star: SFU #24 Jaret Babych (0G, 2A)