Posted: Nov 21, 2015
CHARLESTOWN, Mass. - Johnson & Wales snapped Suffolk's seven-game unbeaten streak Saturday night thanks to Jonathan Ruiz's goal with 4:13 remaining, which proved to be the game-winner, to take a 4-2 ECAC Northeast victory over the Rams Saturday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink.
The visiting Wildcats (3-1-2, 2-1-2 ECAC Northeast) battled back from a pair of one-goal deficits to end the host Rams' (5-1-2, 3-1-2 ECAC Northeast) season-opening seven-game unbeaten streak.
Johnson & Wales trailed 2-1 before evening matters with just under 11 minutes remaining on junior Matt Lanzillotti's power-play goal. Ruiz's game-winner, and third collegiate marker, came on a feed from junior Logan Fortier and junior Connor Bates sealed the Wildcats' triumph with an empty-netter the junior's fifth goal of the season, that came with 17 seconds to play.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes of action, freshman Connor Parent staked Suffolk to the early advantage with his first collegiate goal 3:13 into the middle stanza, but junior Fran Mackin squared things for Johnson & Wales just 1:38 later to forge a 1-1 draw after two.
Junior Danyil Medvedev gave the Rams their final lead of the evening 6:10 into the final frame with his third tally of the year, setting up the Wildcats' late flurry over the final 10:56 of the contest.
Mackin and Bates each finished with a goal and an assist in the victory for Johnson & Wales, which also received a pair of assists from junior Ben Brouillard as well as a single helper off the stick of junior Stefan Brucato.
Seniors Connor McCarthy and Tyler Heineman assisted on Parent's opening tally in the setback for Suffolk, which also received helpers from seniors Mike Cherpak and Justin Selep on Medvedev's marker.
Junior Joey Ballmer picked up the win in goal for Johnson & Wales with a 31-save effort that included 14 stops in the second period alone, while senior Brandon Smolarek made 29 saves in the setback for Suffolk. Both teams had 33 shots on goal for the contest, as the Wildcats collected more than half of their final total (16) in the third period alone.
Suffolk will be idle until Sunday, Nov. 29 when the Rams entertain Salem State in a non-league outing at O'Neil Rink that faces off at 1:35 p.m.