Manchester, N.H. (March 15) -- Mike
Boerma (Concord, Mass.) scored with 59 seconds left in
overtime to 10th-ranked Saint Michael's to an 11-10 overtime win
over Saint Anselm in the Northeast-10 opener for both teams. The
game was played at nearby Southern New Hampshire University, due to
unplayable field conditions at Saint Anselm.
In a back and forth game that was never more than a two-goal
differential, it was the Hawks that jumped out to the 5-4 halftime
advantage following an even-strength goal from Mike McClain
(Milton, Mass.) with 1:38 left in the second quarter.
Chris Murphy (Winchester, Mass.) found the back of
the net with 8:10 left in the third quarter to push the lead to 6-4
before Mike Bednarz (Nashua, N.H.) answered to cut
the lead back to one at 6-5. After the Hawks went back in
front 7-5, the Purple Knights tied the game up at 7-7 with 5:34
left in the third quarter.
Saint Michael's kept the pressure on though as both teams had
chances and took a 10-8 lead with 4:35 left on a goal from
Bryan Zaremba (Manhasset, N.Y.), assisted by
Alex Paulhus (Ashland, Mass.). McClain sent the
game into the extra period though as he completed his hat trick
with an even strength goal with 2:27 left in regulation. In a back
and forth overtime, Boerma scored his third goal of the afternoon
with just 59 ticks left on the clock to send the Purple Knights to
their first victory of the season.
McClain finished with a hat trick for the Hawks, while Murphy
had two goals and an assists. Matt O'Connell (Charlestown,
Mass.) finished with a team-leading three assists. Boerma
and Bednarz each finished with hat tricks for the Purple Knights,
while Boerma also contributed two assists.
Jeff Hannon (Wilbraham, Mass.) was outstanding
in net for the Purple Knights as he turned aside 19 shots for the
overtime win. Pat Acone (Bow, N.H.) made a number
of key saves for the Hawks as he made four saves in the overtime
defeat.
With the loss, the Hawks fall to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the
Northeast-10, while Saint Michael's improves to 1-1 overall and 1-0
in league play. The Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, March 18th
as the team travels to American International for a 4 p.m. start in
Springfield, Mass.
