RINDGE, N.H. – Trailing by one heading into the third period, the Suffolk hockey team netted three goals, including two in the final 4:50 of the period, to top Franklin Pierce, 5-3, Saturday at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.
The win redeems the Rams first semester 5-4 loss to the Ravens and improves Suffolk to 8-3-2 overall, while Franklin Pierce slips to 2-12 on the year.
After two periods of play passed with a multitude of penalties and a 3-2 Franklin Pierce lead, Suffolk cleared its throat and gained significant breathing room in the 15th minute of the third. Danyil Medvedev rushed up the sheet towards the right post and Justin Selep cut hard to the net and jammed it in.
Franklin Pierce put on the pressure down the stretch in the third, but Suffolk would add one more before the final. Mike Cherpak lose his stick and used his skate to kick the puck deep into the zone on the left side. Medvedev chased it down, collected the piece in the corner and centered it to Selep to put it away.
Selep opened the scoring on the night. From the right circle, Medevev found Tyler Heineman at the middle of the blue line. Heineman sent a slap shot to Tom McGuckin and Selep jammed the rebound home to put the Rams up 1-0.
Less than one minute later Franklin Pierce answered. A turnover deep in the Rams' end, Matt Batis gained control and sent a feed up the right side to Travis Geraci for a one-time past Brandon Smolarek. The Ravens took a 2-1 lead at 14:53 when a Rams' blocked shot led to a 2-on-2 rush the other way and Brendan Glynn barreled to the net with the puck and stuffed it in. Dylan Yameen had a hand on the tally.
Tommy Bishop tied things up just two minutes into the second period when the freshman cut out in front of the net from the side and picked the top-right corner as his victim. Blake Manginell put the hosts out in front for the second time in the evening at 15:25. The Ravens rushed up the ice with Jack Williams carrying the puck into the zone on the right side. He sent a centering pass to Mangiell, who finished, and gave Franklin Pierce a 3-2 edge. Anthony Langevin was also credited with an assist on the goal.
Heineman had the equalizing goal in the third. The defenseman rebounded Medvedev's shot in the right circle and quickly put it away. Selep also assisted on the goal.
Selep finished the night with a hat trick and one assist for a game-high four points, while Bishop and Heineman each scored for the Rams. Medvedev dished out a team-high four assists, including all three of Selep's scorers.
Smolarek sent aside 22 attempts in between the pipes, bringing his career total saves to 2,005. The senior net minder is just the second goalie in blue-and-gold since 1999-00 to eclipse the 2,000 save mark. Smolarek now sits in second on Suffolk's all-time saves list behind Jeff Rose '11 who made 2,799 saves in his career.
McGuckin made 36 saves in the setback for the Ravens.
Suffolk, who opened up a five-game road stretch, will next visit Tufts Tuesday, Jan. 12. The Rams and Jumbos are scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.