CHARLESTOWN, Mass. – Suffolk men's hockey slipped in its home opener as Anna Maria defeated the Rams, 3-2, in overtime Friday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Anna Maria 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-3-0) | Anna Maria (2-2-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Anna Maria got things going at the midway point of the first frame when the AMCATS first line swooped into the Rams zone and scored. Gavin Proeh picked up the puck and found the back of the net on Cal Wilcox's stick side to give the visitors a 1-0 edge at the 10:30 minute mark. Proeh's line mates Patrick Peltola and Sam Cur-Ledoux helped put Anna Maria on the board.  

Suffolk saw a great chance quickly into the middle period with a as Brian Brooks and Jack Kelly went on a two-on-one with Julius Huset. Kelly drew Huset to the left, slipped the puck to Brooks on the right, and the senior captain sent a one-timer to the net. Anna Maria's netminder laid out to make the glove save and keep his team in front. 

The Rams' persistence paid off on the second power play of the period, fourth of the night. The dynamic duo of Kelly and Brooks teamed up again, this time, scoring on Huset as Kelly's shot whizzed past the sophomore goaltender's right shoulder to level the playing field at one apiece with just over eight minutes left in the second stanza. Devin Lowe aided in the game-tying goal as well.  

Less than 90 seconds out of the locker room, the Rams took the advantage as Kelly struck for the second time on the night. This time, the junior was set-up by Joseph Mortillaro. Kelly chipped in the feed from his classmate to push the blue-and-gold in front, 2-1, 1:23 into the final frame. 

Anna Maria answered nearly five minutes later. On four-versus-four, with a player from each bench in the box, Jack Sitzman scored an unassisted marker a the 7:17 mark to equalize the non-conference clash at 2-2. 

With just under three minutes left in the third period, Nick Wardstrom led Kelly into the AMCATs zone with a centering pass. Kelly's backhanded attempt was just wide and the scored stayed at two-all.   

Kelly had another game-winning chance with 75 seconds to go, but his shot met Huset's chest pad and the battle extended to overtime. 

As the buzzer rang to single the end of regulation, Joe Feeney was whistled for tripping, which sent the Rams into the extra session a man down. 

With 51 seconds to go on the power play and 1:09 into the OT Sam Cyr-Ledoux found the back of the net to lift the AMCATs to victory. Cyr-Ledoux put back Sitzman's rebound to seal the deal in Anna Maria's favor.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Wildcox had a 30-save performance. 
• Huset picked up 25 saves for his victory of the season.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Kelly was responsible for both of Suffolk's strikes. 
• Brooks, Lowe and Mortillaro each dished out one assist. 
• Anna Maria owned the edge in shots, 33-27, while Suffolk won the battle in the face-off circle, 40-30.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk met Anna Maria for the first time. 
• The Rams went into overtime for the first time since skating to a 2-2 tie at Johnson & Wales February 8, 2018. 
• Suffolk played in OT in its home opener for the first time since it lifted the lid on its home slate in 2015-16 with a 4-3 overtime victory over Assumption. 
• Kelly matched a personal-best two-goal effort. He reached the two-goal feat for the fifth time in his career. 
• Lowe recorded his first collegiate point with one assist. 
• Mortillaro handed out his first assist of the season.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk skates back into NEHC action next weekend when it welcomes Southern Maine and New England College to Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink. The Huskies head to Charlestown Friday, Nov. 22 with the Pilgrims set to stop by the next night, Saturday, Nov. 23. Both conference contests have 7 p.m. puck drops.