Box Score MANCHESTER, N.H. – Jim Gabrione (Boca Raton, Fla.) was the hero scoring the game-winning goal in overtime as time expired as the Southern New Hampshire ice hockey team defeated Westfield State University in non-conference action Tuesday evening by a score of 5-4. 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 00:03 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 game-winner, and 11th tally overall.
After a tied up first period, the Owls jumped ahead of the Penmen by a score of 3-2 in the second, and took the lead into the final period of regulation.
Anthony Laperriere (Winchendon, Mass.) tied the game up halfway through the third period on a score from Jim O'Connor (Arlington, Mass.) and Connor Audycki (Bellevue, Wash.), 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 up once again late in the period with 1:27 left to play 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 Penmen return to action on Saturday, January 19 when they travel to Salve Regina for a 7:35 p.m. non-conference game. They return home on Tuesday, January 21 for a home game against league opponent Franklin Pierce at 7:30 p.m.
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