Worcester, Mass. (February 8) -- The Ice Dogs defeated Franklin Pierce University, 6-5, in overtime behind 59 saves from sophomore goaltender Bobby Bowden (Springfield, Mass./Williston Northampton) at the Buffone Arena on Wednesday night.
Senior forward Pat O'Kane (Hollis, N.H./Bishop Guertin) scored the game-winning goal with 1:30 left to play in overtime off an assist from sophomore foward Kyle Zobler (Millbury, Mass./New Hampton) to give the Ice Dogs the two-seed in the Conference tournament and the ability to host a playoff game. Zobler had a team-high three points in the game with one goal and two assists.
Assumption trailed the season series to the Ravens, 0-1-1 coming into action, but with the victory move to 1-1-1 against Franklin Pierce and earn the season split and each team will pick up a point in the standings.
Assumption took a lead 3:07 into the game on a goal by Keven Meehan (Melrose, Mass./Austin Prep), his seventh of the season, assisted by senior forward Taylor Larsen (Blackstone, Mass./Worcester Academy).
Franklin Pierce scored two unanswered goals by Bryan Colella and Sean Dunn to give the Ravens a 2-1 advantage with 6:44 to play in the first period.
The Ice Dogs knotted up the score with an unassisted goal by Nick Mattiello (Johnston, R.I./Bishop Hendricken), his 11th of the season, and then retook the lead on an O'Kane goal, assisted by Zobler and senior forward Kevin Glanzman (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) with 1:35 to play in the first period.
Assumption extended its advantage to two in the second period on a goal by Zobler, his fourth goal of the season, matching his season total as a freshman last season. Franklin Pierce then added two unanswered goals in the second period by Tyler Cornele and Pat Shortt, to tie the score at at four 5:48 into the period.
Assumption took the lead back when Larsen scored an unassisted goal with 7:33 remaining, giving the Ice Dogs a 5-4 lead heading into the third period.
The Ravens answered back with a third period goal by Shortt with 16:28 remaining, and both goaltenders held to send the game to overtime, setting up the heroics for O'Kane.
Zobler put the puck in front of the net, and found O'Kane, who beat Raven goaltender Ben Siok for the game-winner.
Bowden picked up the victory to move to 8-2-1 on the season with the victory, as the Ice Dogs move to 11-8-1 overall. Siok made 18 saves in relief of Dave O'Brien, but took the loss to fall to 2-4-0 on the season.
Assumption returns to the ice on Saturday, February 11, when the team travels to Fitchburg State. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m. at the Wallace Civic Center.
