THE BASICS:
- Score: Assumption 5, Franklin Pierce 3
- Records: Assumption (12-5-1, 5-4-1 NE10), Franklin Pierce (8-10-1, 3-5-1 NE10)
- Location: Winchendon, Mass. (Jason Ritchie Ice Arena)
- The lead: After going down by two just 39 seconds into the game, the Assumption Greyhounds scored four unanswered goals and then an empty-netter to defeat the Franklin Pierce Ravens 5-3 on Friday night to improve their point-streak to four games and to take a share of first place within the Northeast-10 conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
-The Ravens went up 2-0 just 39 seconds into the game on goals by Sean Crowley and Anthony Nikolopoulos that came just 21 seconds apart. The Hounds then went on to score four unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead that included a power play goal from Robert Roche ((Holden, Mass. / Tri City Storm (USHL)) and a short-handed goal from Dante Tomassini (North Branford, Conn. / Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack (EHL)). Robert Holyoke (Middleboro, Mass. / South Shore Kings (USPHL Premier)) then added an insurance goal on an empty net with less than a minute to play to give his team a 5-3 lead.
-Tomassini netted the biggest goal of the game at the 7:58 mark of the third period to put his team up for good at 4-2. Tomassini took a centering pass from teammate Brendan Philippon (Salem, N.H. / Philadelphia Flyers (USPHL Premier)) while on the 2-on-1 advantage and deked his way into scoring on the backhand to give his team a two goal lead.
-Holyoke added insurance for the Hounds by scoring with 58 seconds left in the game on an empty net to put his team up 5-3. This came after Nate Indelicato scored on the power play with 5:58 left in the game to pull within one at 4-3. The goal marked Holyoke's second of the game after he netted the Hounds' first of their four unanswered goals.
-Matt Damelio (Rochester, N.Y. / Northwood (Prep)) set Holyoke up with the team's first goal came at the 5:12 mark of the first period. Holyoke gathered the rebound shot out front and put it home to bring the game to within one at 2-1. With 4:22 left in the first period, Roche tied the game at two while on the power play. Roche launched a shot from the right point that trickled past a confused Ian Wallace in net for his fifth goal of the season.
-Assumption then went up 3-2 at the 8:55 mark of the second period. Peter McDonagh (Latrobe, Pa. / Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL Elite)) camped out front and finished on a nice puck from teammates John Chamberlain (Amesbury, Mass. / Williston Northampton School) and Michael Zampanti (Winthrop, Mass. / Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL Premier)) while on the 5-on-4 advantage. However, the goal did not count as a power play opportunity because Franklin Pierce elected not to put anyone in the penalty box on a game misconduct penalty by Stephen Pantera.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
-The Hounds improved upon their 33.8 shots per game average by placing 38 on net Friday night. They outshot the Ravens 38-17.
-David Zulauf (Rochester, Mich. / Bridgton Academy (Prep)) made 14 saves on 17 shots and improved to 10-4-1 on the year. He is 5-1-1 in his last seven games. Wallace made 33 saves on 37 shots for Franklin Pierce but fell to 5-9-1 on the year.
-Holyoke now has three goals in his last two games.
-With the win, the Hounds now have 11 points, which gives them enough to share a first-place lead with Saint Michael's, who also has 11 points. Saint Michael's, who went into the night with only 10 points, but tied Southern N.H. 2-2 to maintain a share of the lead.
UP NEXT:
-The Hounds face Franklin Pierce again tomorrow, January 26, in the final game of the weekend series between the two teams. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
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