FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Joe Collins (Mansfield, Mass.) scored a power play goal 54 seconds into overtime to lift the Southern New Hampshire hockey team to a 6-5 victory on the road over Framingham State College Wednesday evening in non-conference action. The Penmen are now 1-1, while the Rams are 0-1.
Four different Penmen scored in the victory, and two SNHU players tallied multiple goals. Collins netted two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, while Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.) added two scores for the visitors. Steven Berry (Ashburn, Va.) and TJ Bond (Nashua, N.H.) were the other two Penmen who added to the goal column, scoring a goal apiece. All but one goal for SNHU was scored on a power play, and the Penmen capitalized on five out of seven man-up opportunities for an impressive .714 percentage.
Berry struck first in the first period to give the Penmen an early 1-0 lead five minutes into the frame on a power play goal from John Humphrey (Charlestown, Mass.) and Anthony Laperriere (Winchendon, Mass.) for his first one of the season. However, the Rams quickly answered with back-to-back scores, including a power play goal, to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.
Collins quickly tied the game up at 2-2 after tallying his first goal of the game just a minute into the second on a Penmen power play. The two teams each scored two more times apiece in the period. Framingham took the lead once again after a Ryan McDonald goal, but just seconds later, Bergeron notched his first tally of his collegiate career for SNHU to tie it up at 3-3. Daniel Miressi was able to give the Rams the lead one more time in the period after scoring halfway through the frame, but Gabrione scored his first goal of the game on a power play from Collins to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the third period.
Gabrione kept the scoring going for the Penmen after scoring on another power play five minutes into the third period to give SNHU its first lead of the game since the first period. However, the Rams did not go down without a fight, and Eric Ward tallied one last goal for the hosts to send the game into overtime tied at 5-5.
A Rams' penalty that carried over into the overtime period was the difference for the Penmen as Collins was able to score his second goal of the game on a power play, and third of the season from Gabrione to give the Penmen their first win.
David Letarte (Salem, Mass.) earned the win in net for SNHU saving 26 shots, while Nicholas Cafrelli totaled 35 saves for the Rams.
The Penmen return to action Saturday, November 9 when they play host to Plymouth State for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference game.
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