THE BASICS:
- Score: Assumption 5, Stonehill 4
- Records: Assumption (14-6-2, 7-5-2 NE10), Stonehill (6-13-1, 1-9-1 NE10)
- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Buffone Arena)
- The lead: In a game that saw three lead changes and two ties, the Assumption Greyhounds found a way to outduel the Stonehill Skyhawks on Friday night, winning 5-4 on the team's Alzheimer's Awareness benefit game at Buffone Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
-After the two team's traded goals until Stonehill took a 3-2 lead just 1:37 into the third period, the Hounds pulled together three straight goals to go up 5-3. John Pigott (Arlington, Mass. / Tilton School (Prep)) scored twice during that span, first tying the game at three on a blocker-side shot. He then to put his team up 5-3 at the 9:59 mark on a shot that beat Stonehill goalie Chase McKay on the glove side this time. Robert Holyoke (Middleboro, Mass. / South Shore Kings (USPHL Premier)) scored in between Pigott's goals at the 6:06 mark when he deked McKay and slipped the puck into the bottom right corner.
-Stonehill pulled within one at 5-4 at the 13:43 mark and while on the power play thanks to a goal from Zachary Frament. The Skyhawks tried their best to tie the game, pulling their goalie with 30 seconds left, but a blocked shot from Peter McDonagh (Latrobe, Pa. / Boston Jr. Bruins (USPHL Elite)) with three seconds left sealed Assumption's victory.
-Matt Drake (Whiting, N.J. / Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL Elite)) previously tied the game at two for Assumption 9:25 into the second period. From the slot, Brendan Philippon (Salem, N.H. / Philadelphia Flyers (USPHL Premier)) set up teammate Dante Tomassini (North Branford, Conn. / Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack (EHL)) at the point. Tomassini saw Drake wide open on the left side and dished it off. Drake took it and fired a shot at the net, which ended up being deflected by the Stonehill defender top-down into the back of the net.
-The Skyhawks began the game with a quick 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jack Hall just 2:48 into the game and Jack Scannell at 3:36. The Hounds were able to pull back to within one by the end of the period when Philippon scored on the power play with 5:47 left in the period.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
-Assumption outshot the Skyhawks 34-24. Holyoke led the team with six shots on net. The Hounds were 2-for-6 on the power play, while Stonehill went 1-for-2.
-David Zulauf (Rochester, Mich. / Bridgton Academy (Prep)) made 20 saves on 24 shots and improved to 12-5-2 on the year. McKay made 29 saves on 34 shots but fell to 1-3-1 on the year.
-Dante Maribito (Georgetown, Mass. / Phillips Academy (Prep)) was an impressive +5 while on the ice with two assists. Philippon was +4 while on the ice with one goal and three assists. Saturday broke a three-game pointless streak for Philippon, who now has eight goals and 10 assists on the year.
-Holyoke's goal continued his recent point surge, giving him three goals in his last three games, four points in his last five games and eight points in his team's nine games since returning from winter break.
UP NEXT:
-The Hounds will host Saint Anselm on Tuesday, February 5, with puck set to drop at 7:05 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
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