THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 4, Fitchburg State 3

-Records: Assumption (5-6-2); Fitchburg State (5-7-1)

-The Lead: Senior Brandon Bete (Greenfield, Mass. / Northfield Mount Hermon) scored the game-winning goal with just 1:04 left in regulation to lift the Assumption College ice hockey team to a 4-3 victory over the Fitchburg State Falcons on the road on Tuesday night. The victory marks the third straight for the Hounds and their first of 2016.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-Despite nearly an entire first period of a flawless Greyhound defense, the Falcons notched a 1-0 advantage with just 50 seconds left in the frame on a power play goal by Mike Fretz.

-Just 4:36 into the second period, the Hounds responded when junior Ryan Gomez (Wayne, N.J. / Wayne Valley) collected a rebound in front of the net and wristed a shot into the left side for his fifth goal of the season to tie it at 1-1, assisted by Bete.

-The Hounds took the lead in the 14th minute of the second period when sophomore Tommy Mahoney (Braintree, Mass. / Braintree) found the back of the net on a five-on-three power play for his fifth goal of the season. Mahoney was assisted by senior Pat Trainor (Auburn, Mass. / Auburn) on the play.

-Bete opened the third period with an insurance goal at 0:29 on a power play to make it 3-1 in favor of the Hounds, assisted by sophomore Brian Farrell (Island Park, N.Y. / West Boca). 

-Fitchburg State narrowed the gap and tied the contest, 3-3, with two straight goals in the third at 7:06 and 12:40, threatening to send the game into overtime. 

-With just 1:04 remaining in regulation, Bete tallied his second goal of the game on a power play to put the Hounds ahead for good as the clock wound down. Bete was assisted by Farrell and freshman Matt Damelio (Rochester, N.Y. / Northwood) on the game-winning goal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-Bete led the Hounds on the day with three points on two goals and one assist while tallying a team-high eight shots on goal. 

-Farrell notched two points on two assists on the day.

-Junior Nick Commesso (Marshfield, Mass. / The Governor's Academy) collected 36 saves on the day compared to 26 for the Falcons' Kirby Saari.

-Overall, Fitchburg State outshot the Hounds 39-30 while Assumption capitalized on three of seven power-play attempts as the Falcons went 2-for-8.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

-Gomez continues to lead the NE-10 with 19 points on five goals and 14 assists. 

-Bete's three points in Tuesday's contest ties Gomez's 19 points for the lead in the league's standings. He now posts 19 points on 12 goals and seven assists. 

-Bete has scored the game-winning goal in the Hounds' past two games. 

-Farrell has collected six assists so far this season, five of which have come in the Hounds' last two games. 

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds return to action at home on Thursday, Jan. 7, as they host Western New England at Buffone Arena at 7:35 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the men's ice hockey team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.