THE BASICS

-Score: Assumption College 4, Franklin Pierce 1

-Records: Assumption (15-7-4, NE10 12-3-2), Franklin Pierce (14-11-4, NE10 7-7-3)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Buffone Arena)

-The Lead: The Assumption College men's ice hockey team became the Northeast-10 Conference 2020 regular season champions with a 4-1 victory over Franklin Pierce on Friday night. This is the first regular season champion title in Assumption men's ice hockey program history. Prior to the game the Hounds celebrated Senior Day.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Assumption got on the board first with just over six minutes off the clock in the first period. After a slow start, sophomore Michael Zampanti (Winthrop, Mass. / Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL Premier)) whipped a backhanded pass out to his classmate, Dante Maribito (Georgetown, Mass. / Phillips Academy (Prep)) from behind the net. Maribito let a shot go over the right shoulder of Franklin Pierce goaltender, Ian Wallace, for the 1-0 lead.

-The Ravens responded halfway through the second period. Sophomore Ryan Gorbett dished the puck up to senior Mark Indelicato on the top right wing, and Indelicato put it away to tie the game at 1-1.

-Sophomore Jared Bernis (Melrose, Mass. / Boston Jr. Rangers (EHL)) put the Hounds back up as he carried the puck down the right side and put it past the right side of Wallace for the 2-1 lead at the end of the second period.

-Senior goaltender, David Zulauf (Rochester, Mich. / Bridgton Academy (Prep)) came up with multiple big saves in the final two minutes of the game to hold onto the 2-1 lead. Maribito and sophomore Robert Holyoke (Middleboro, Mass. / South Shore Kings (USPHL Premier)) both put in empty net goals in the last minute of play to secure the 4-1 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Franklin Pierce Edged Assumption in shots 41-38. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.

-Maribito led the Hounds with two goals while Holyoke finished with one goal and one assist.

-Zulauf earned the win in net for Assumption. He made 41 saves and improves to 6-4-1 on the season.

-Wallace made 33 saves and falls to 6-15-1 on the season for the Ravens.

-Franklin Pierce totaled 24 minutes on four penalties while the Hounds served eight minutes from four infractions.

UP NEXT

-The Hounds hit the road tomorrow for their final game of the regular season. They will take on the Ravens in NE10 action at 4:00 p.m.