HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's ice hockey team won 4-2 over visiting Elmira College on Friday evening at Lee Clement Arena in Henniker, New Hampshire in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action. With just five regular season games to go, the Pilgrims move one step closer to clinching a spot in the upcoming NEHC playoffs.
THE BASICS
Score: Elmira 2, New England College 4
Records: Pilgrims 8-11-1, 7-7-1 NEHC | Soaring Eagles 11-7-2, 8-6-1 NEHC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The 'Grims wasted no time pouncing on the Eagles as – just 3:19 into the game – NEC sophomore forward Jack Herron (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) took a pass from senior defenseman Connor Lefkof (Frisco, Texas) and finished for his fifth goal of the season to put the hosts up 1-0.
- With 4:59 left in the first and just two seconds remaining on a power play, Elmira senior forward Joel Pavey (Sarnia, Ont.) scored the equalizer with an assist to freshman forward Owen Halloran (Markham, Ont.) to tie it up at 1-1 as the teams went into the first intermission knotted.
- Early in the second period, a plethora of penalties gave both teams scoring opportunities and it finally resulted in the Pilgrims scoring their second goal of the game on a four-on-four at 3:31 in, scored by NEC senior forward Wyatt Andres (Brainerd, Minn.), last week's NEHC Player of the Week. The score was assisted by junior defenseman Graham Padgitt (St. Charles, Ill.) and freshman forward Egor Osipik (Minsk, Belarus). It was Andres' fourth goal of the season. Just like that the hosts were back on top.
- Then with 3:52 to go in the second, NEC sophomore forward Gunnar Sibley (Monticello, Minn.) scored his fifth goal of the season off a power play, assisted by Herron and freshman defenseman Andrew Ralston (San Jose, Calif.). The 'Grims took a commanding 3-1 into the final period.
- The third period continued to see physical play as both teams looked for the decisive edge. It would be the Pilgrims who seized the opportunity as Herron scored his second goal of the game on a power play with 8:36 left in regulation, putting NEC ahead 4-1 with his sixth goal of the season.
- The Soaring Eagles got a spoiler goal with 2:30 remaining in the game when Elmira graduate forward Chance Gorman (Flemington, N.J.) scored on a power play. That was as close as the visitors would get, however, as NEC came away with the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC freshman goaltender Anthony Beaulieu (Lawrence, Mass.) tallied 25 saves on the night for the Pilgrims.
- Elmira sophomore goaltender Kyle Curtin (St. George, Ont.) finished with 22 stops for the Eagles.
- Shots on goal were 27-26 in favor of the visitors.
- It was the first multi-goal game of Herron's career. The sophomore is now third on the team in goals with six and tied for second in points with 16.
- Andres went 18-and-9 on faceoff attempts. Overall, NEC was 46-and-26 for the night.
- It was the first win for NEC over Elmira in the storied career of Pilgrim head coach Tom Carroll and the first program victory over the Soaring Eagles since the 1981-82 season.
UP NEXT
- NEC and Elmira will be back on the ice on Saturday when they'll be back in Lee Clement for a 4:00 p.m. game.
