MANCHESTER, N.H. – Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored the game-winning goal in overtime as time expired as the Southern New Hampshire ice hockey team defeated Westfield State University, 5-4, in non-conference action Tuesday evening.
The Penmen improve to 10-5-1, while the Owls are now 6-8-0.
With the game tied at 4-4 in overtime with 3.4 seconds left, and with a power play opportunity, SNHU called a timeout and pulled goalie Tyler Holske (Attleboro, Mass.) for the extra skater advantage, and to draw up a play to win the game. Joe Collins (Mansfield, Mass.) took the faceoff, and Gabrione was able to sneak a shot past the Owls goaltender as time expired on the game clock. Gabrione’s power play goal is his sixth on the season, second gamewinner, and 11th tally overall.
After a tied up first period, the Owls jumped ahead of the Penmen by a score of 3-1 in the second period, and took 3-2 lead into the final period of regulation. Dalton Jay scored twice for the Owls and Kyllian Kirkwood scored the other goal.
Anthony Lapierre (Winchendon, Mass.) tied the game midway through the third period and Brian Troy (Ashburnham, Mass.) gave the hosts their first lead of the game at 4-3 on his first goal of the season with under five minutes left to play.
However, Westfield State did not go down without a fight, and TJ Powers evened the score on a power play goal with 1:27 left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
The Penmen outshot Westfield State 6-1 in overtime, and 43-33 overall. They also were able to convert 2-5 power play opportunities.
Holske turned away one shot in the overtime period, and 29 total shots for the Penmen en route to the win, while Ian Perrier saved 38 shots for the Owls.
The Owls return to action on Thursday, Jan. 16, when they host Salem State in a MASCAC midseason showdown. Westfield and Salem are tied for first place in the MASCAC with 5-2 records.
