Suffolk Defeats Franklin Pierce In Overtime, 4-3
Davis scores the game-winner 1:27 into overtime to spoil the Raven comeback

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 28, 2007) – Sophomore Nick Davis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Northern Mass.) scored the game-winning goal 1:27 into overtime as Suffolk University held off Franklin Pierce University by a score of 4-3 in an ECAC Northeast Conference match on Wednesday night at the Winchendon School Ice Arena.

Davis won the game for the Rams with a missile from the right point that eluded Ravens’ freshman goaltender Matt McCarthy (Natick, Mass./New Hampton School) high to the left corner. The first assist on the goal came from the left dasher off the stick of Tim Dancey (Anaheim, Calif./Berkshire School), who finished with a goal and an assist. Dan Pencinger (Randolph, N.J./Trinity-Pawling) recorded a game-high two goals to lead the Rams.

The goal negated a spirited comeback by the Ravens, who scored three goals in the final frame to overcome a pair of two-goal deficits. Senior captain Pete Wilson (Marshfield, Mass./ Marshfield) began the charge with a power-play goal at 9:18 of the third period, taking a pass from sophomore Phil LaBreck (Thornton, N.H./Laconia Leafs) and beating Suffolk goaltender Jeff Rose (Collinsville, Conn./Valley) from the blue line.

After Pencinger scored his second goal of the evening to put the visitors back up by two at 3-1, Franklin Pierce scored twice in 4:07 to even the score. LaBreck notched his fourth goal of the season at 14:44, collecting the rebound of a one-timer by junior Shane Murphy (Tolland, Conn./The Gunnery School) and finding the net. Then, with 1:09 remaining in regulation, sophomore Rob Perretta (Staten Island, N.Y./Brockville Tiki's) gathered a loose puck in the left circle after a scramble in front of the Suffolk net and found the short-side corner to knot the score at three and send the game to overtime.

With an assist on Perretta’s tally, senior captain Joe Fields (Towamencin, Pa./Green Mountain Glades) moved into a tie for second place on the school’s all-time points list with 66, tying Matt Clemente ’06 and moving to within one point of the 67 points recorded by recent Pierce graduate Brian DelSavio ’07.

Suffolk recorded the only two shots on goal of the overtime period, with Davis finding the back of the net on the second and final attempt.

McCarthy played well in net for the Ravens in his first collegiate start, stopping 30-of-34 shots on goal. Rose made 18 stops for the Rams to earn his fifth victory of the season.

Franklin Pierce (1-6-0, 0-4-0 ECAC NE) continues ECAC Northeast play on Saturday, when the Ravens travel to Framingham State College at 7:30 p.m. Suffolk (5-3-0, 3-0-0 ECAC NE) takes on Worcester State College Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Suffolk 4, Franklin Pierce 3 (OT)

                                                                                    1      2      3      OT          F

Suffolk (5-3-0, 3-0-0 ECAC NE)                             0      2      1      1      -       4

Franklin Pierce (1-6-0, 0-4-0 ECAC NE)               0      0      3      0      -       3

 

First Period: None.

Second Period: SUF, Tim Dancey/7 (Mitch Sabo, John Rocchio), 2:50; SUF, Dan Pencinger/4 (John Rocchio, Brian Smusz), 12:03.

Third Period: FPU, Pete Wilson/3 (Phil LaBreck, Casey Goodell), 9:18; SUF, Dan Pencinger/5 (Zach Scienzo, John Rocchio), 13:43; FPU, Phil LaBreck/4 (Shane Murphy, Trevor Clark), 14:44; FPU, Rob Perretta/2 (Joe Fields, Jeff Kasper), 18:51.

Overtime: SUF, Nick Davis/3 (Tim Dancey, Kyle Cook), 1:27.

Goaltenders: SUF, Jeff Rose (61:27), 18 saves; FPU, Matt McCarthy (61:22), 30 saves.

Shots on Goal: SUF: 7-5-10-2—34; FPU: 5-8-8-0—21.

 GAME STATISTICS AND BOX SCORE