When and Where: March 2, 2024 – Worcester, Mass. (Worcester Ice Center)
What:  2023-24 Northeast-10 Championship
Score:  #1 Assumption University 3, #3 Southern New Hampshire University 2 (2 OT)
Records: SNHU 14-14-2,  Assumption 25-7-0
 
SNHU Ice Hockey rallied twice to tie but fell 3-2 in double overtime to Assumption University on Saturday in the Northeast-10 Championship at the Worcester Ice Center.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Junior Connor Ball (Webster, N.Y.) – goal
• Senior Matt Amante (West Hempstead, N.Y.) – goal
• Freshman Collin Berke (Crofton, Md.) – 72 saves
• Sophomore Tyler Murray (Barre, Vt.) – assist
• Junior Ryan Clear (Cherry Hill, N.J.) – assist
• Sophomore Brendan Lynch (Nepean, Ont.) - assist

KEY MOMENTS

• Assumption took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 3:26 of the first period.  Leo Piandes scored the goal with a slap shot that beat Berke over the left shoulder.
• The Penmen drew even at 13:35 of the first period with a goal by Ball from in close off a pass from Murray.  Clear also earned an assist on the play.
• The Greyhounds took a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal by captain Shane Sullivan at 8:07 of the second period when Assumption finished an attack on the right side of the ice.
• SNHU would tie the game at 2-2 while on a 4-on-3 power-play at 10:03.  Amante sent the puck low to Lynch, who kicked it back out for a one-timer.
• Neither team scored in the first overtime session, although the Penmen did gain a man advantage with 2:49 to play.
• The game ended at 13:05 of the second overtime when Jonathan Surrette scored for the Greyhounds.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Assumption had a 75-58 advantage on shots on goal.
• The Greyhounds were 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Penmen were 1-for-3.
• 20 of Berke's saves were in the overtime periods.
• The win went to Greyhound goalie Thomas McLarnon, who stopped 15 shots alone in the first extra session and was named the MVP.

NOTES

• The goal for Ball was his second of the season.
• Amante finished the season with 12 goals, one behind sophomore Kurt Watson (London, Ont.).  Lynch finished with a team-leading 26 points.
• Berke had won seven consecutive starts heading into the Championship and was named to the All-Rookie team by NE10 Coaches earlier in the week.  He led the league with a 2.27 goals-against average.
• This was the first time Assumption and SNHU had met in the post-season since 2008, and the first time they had met in the Championship.
• The Greyhounds won three of the four games played during the regular season and the the all-time series is tied 42-42-5.
• SNHU had earned wins over #6 Post University and #2 Saint Michael's College to advance to the championship for the first time since they won the title exactly five years ago (3/2/19) over Saint Anselm College.
• Assumption won its second title in three seasons under Head Coach Michael Looney.

UP NEXT

• The 2023-24 season is now complete.

For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams.