CHARLESTOWN, Mass. – Devin Lowe found the back of the net twice to tie the game and force Suffolk men's hockey and the 12 Nor'Easters into overtime, but No. 12 University of New England struck first in the extra session to defeat the Rams, 3-2, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play Saturday night at Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | No. 12 University of New England 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-4-2, 1-3-2 CCC) | No. 12 University of New England (4-1-1, 4-1-1 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite outing the Nor'Easters in the first frame, 13-12, it was Suffolk that trail after the first 20 minutes, 1-0.
The Rams made up the gap 1:21 into the middle period. Suffolk proved it did not need the extra skater as the game-tying goal came off Lowe's stick seconds after its power play expired. Billy Roche set-up the strike the evened the score at 1-all.
Unlike the blue-and-gold UNE used its man-up opportunity to go ahead again. Austin Morgan sniped a power play goal past Cal Wilcox at the 11:27 mark of the second period to give the visitors a 2-1 edge at the second intermission. Jake Fuss and Collin Heinold helped give the Nor'Easters a lead for the second time on the night.
Suffolk's power play goal did eventually come as Lowe locked up the game for the second time 8:09 into the third. The junior put the puck away on feeds from Nick Lachaine and Daniil Ovchinnikov to equalize matters once again.
The score stood still for the remainder of regulation and the teams would headed to overtime.
Skating three-on-three, the Rams saw a chance when Lowe went on a breakaway. Billy Girard gobbled up the attempt to keep things tied. That would not last long though as Alex Sheehy knocked in the game-winner just 1:39 into the extra to lift the Nor'Easters to victory.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Wilcox had 32 saves to his credit.
- Girard notched 27 stops.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Lowe was responsible for both of Suffolk's goals.
- Lachaine, Ovchinnikov and Roche each recorded one assist.
- UNE held a 35-29 edge in shots and a 31-25 upper hand in face-offs.
- Both teams went 1-for-3 on the power play.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk and UNE went into overtime for the second time in the all-time series, first since Dec. 2, 2017.
- The Rams are now 0-1-1 when taking the Nor'Easters to an extra session.
- Lowe logged a personal-best two goals.
- Lachaine and Ovchinnikov both handed out their first helpers of the year.
- Ovchinnikov has tallied a point in the last two games.
- Roche extended his point streak to six games. In that span he has registered 10 points on a pair of goals and eight assists.
POST-GAME PIC
SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk takes a break from CCC competition Sunday, Nov. 28 when it visits UMass Dartmouth for a 5:30 p.m. meeting.
