HOOKSETT, N.H. – Four different Southern New Hampshire University ice hockey players tallied a goal Tuesday night in a 5-5 overtime tie against Suffolk University in their home opener. The Penmen are now 0-1-1 while the Rams are 3-2-1.

The Rams jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first period when Wes Bonnell scored at the 15:49 mark. David Lazaro and Mike Cherpak would build on the 1-0 lead later in the period when they each notched a goal for Suffolk, making the score 3-0. However, Southern New Hampshire freshman Joe Collins (Mansfield, Mass.) would answer when he scored his first collegiate goal assisted by Trevor Nelson (Exeter, N.H.) with 7:35 remaining in the period. Collins' goal would put the Penmen behind 3-1 heading into the second period.  

Steven Berry (Ashburn, VA) would score the lone goal of the second period putting the Penmen within just one goal of the Rams. Berry's second goal of the season came at the 15:21 mark in the period and was assisted by Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.)

The Penmen trailed 3-2 halfway through the third period until a Charles Wisniewski (Strongsville, Ohio) tally from Collins and Jim O'Connor (Arlington, Mass.) tied the game up at three goals apiece. The Penmen would soon take a 4-3 lead on a power-play goal from Gabrione to mark his first collegiate score, but the Rams would answer with an equalizer as Tim Sprague connected from Charlie McGinnis to tie the game up at 4-4. Gabrione would score just a minute later putting SNHU ahead 5-4, but the Rams would tie the game up at 5-5 with just 50 seconds left in the third period on a Charlie McGinnis goal off of a rebound.

In the overtime period, each team had one shot on goal, but could not connect.

Goalie Tyler Holske (Attleboro, Mass.) totaled 26 saves in the tie, while Ram's goalie Brandon Smolarek turned away 21 Penmen shots on net. Southern New Hampshire converted one out of three power plays into scores, and Suffolk scored twice out of four power plays.

The Penmen will return home when they host the Manchester PAL/Stovepipe Tournament on November 24-25. SNHU will play the University of New England at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in a non-conference game.