GORHAM, Maine – Hawks defenseman Alex Pascal (Blue Bell, Pa.) scored a dramatic game-tying goal with only 20 seconds remaining in regulation, lifting the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team to a 2-2 tie against the Huskies of the University of Southern Maine Saturday evening at the University of Southern Maine Ice Arena. The Hawks collect their fourth tie of the season, placing their overall record at 12-8-4 and their ECAC Men's East conference record at 7-8-3. The Huskies conclude their regular season with a 9-10-6 overall record and a 7-7-4 conference record.
On the power play, forward Liam McKillop (New York, N.Y.) reached double-digit goals, scoring his 10th of the season at 15:12 of the opening period to place Saint Anselm on the board first. Forwards Sean Jenkins (Boston, Mass.) and Tucker Mullin (Andover, Mass.) collected assists on McKillop's second goal in three games. McKillop extends his point streak to three games, scoring two goals and three assists for five points (2-3=5) during that span.
The Huskies would go on to score the next two goals in just under a span of three minutes, with forward Dan Rautenberg potting his eighth of the season with only 37 seconds remaining in the first and forward David Nies scoring at 1:54 of the second period. Junior defenseman Jon Grandinetti assisted Rauteberg's game-tying goal, while forwards Mike Greene and Sam Guimond collected helpers on Nies' eighth goal of the season.
With Hawks goaltender Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) pulled in favor of the extra attacker, Pascal netted his fourth goal of the season at 19:40 of the third period, forcing overtime. Senior defenseman and captain Ryan Holley (Bethany Beach, Del.) collected the lone assist on the play. With the goal, Pascal recorded his first point in six games while Holley posted his second assist in as many nights.
Kang (8-2-2) drew his second tie of the season, turning aside 22-of-24 shots on goal in just under 64 minutes of action. Southern Maine goaltender Braely Torris (9-8-6) collected his sixth tie of the season, allowing two goals on 33 shots on net.
Saint Anselm was 1-for-6 on the power play. Southern Maine was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
NOTABLES: The Hawks have battled the Huskies to ties twice this season with the first coming at home on Jan. 13…The Hawks are 9-7-3 against Southern Maine in program history…Saint Anselm has not lost since Feb. 3 against nationally-ranked Norwich and are 6-1-1 dating back to a 6-5 non-conference victory over Salem State on Jan. 31…Forward Tim King's (Weymouth, Mass.) 12-game point streak was snapped after being held off the scoresheet this evening - during that span, King had recorded four goals and 17 assists for 21 points (4-17=21)…Forward Tucker Mullin is riding a modest six-game point streak, netting three goals and five assists for eight points (3-5=8) dating back to Feb. 4 against Saint Michael's…Goaltender Robert Kang is undefeated in his last six games.
Saint Anselm returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 21 as they travel to face-off against the Skyhawks of Stonehill College at the Foxboro Sports Center in a 7:00 p.m. contest. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by following the Hawks on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
