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| Press Release |
Press Release
SOUTHERN MAINE RALLIES, SHOCKS PURPLE KNIGHTS MEN, 8-7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
January 8, 2005 Contact: Seth Cole
Phone: (802) 654-2537SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Freshman Mike Stevens’ (Dover, N.H.) goal with 1:27 left in regulation completed a three-goal comeback as the University of Southern Maine rallied past Saint Michael’s College, 8-7, in ECAC East men’s ice hockey action on Saturday at Cairns Arena.
For the Huskies, sophomore Mark Carragher (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) tallied two power play goals and an assist, while junior James LeBlanc (Dorval, Quebec) added a goal and three assists. Sophomore Chris Sparkes (St. John’s, Newfoundland) notched a goal and two assists, while freshman Tyler Ravlo (Yarmouth, N.S.) stopped 19 of 23 shots as Southern Maine (5-6-1, 3-4-0 ECAC East) went 3-of-7 on the power play.
For the Purple Knights, freshman Erik Caron (Kanata, Ontario/Smith Falls Bears) netted two goals and two assists, while sophomore Chris Thurston (Wallingford, Conn./Fairfield Prep) potted two goals and an assist. Junior Alex Watts (Cheshire, Conn./Berkshire School) and sophomore Jared Silver (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy) added a goal and an assist each, and sophomore Erik Smith (Warwick, R.I./Hill School) turned back 40 shots, including 22 in the first period, for Saint Michael’s (5-5-1, 2-4-1 ECAC East).
After falling behind, 4-3, on Huskies sophomore Brian Collins’ (Reading, Mass.) goal 29 seconds into the second period, Saint Michael’s scored the next four goals to take a seemingly-insurmountable 7-4 lead with less than 12 minutes remaining in the third period. Thurston scored twice in the four-goal flurry, including once on the power play, while Caron added a shorthanded marker during the run.
Southern Maine, however, cut its deficit to 7-5 just 30 seconds after Thurston’s second goal, and with 6:40 to go, Sparkes’ score trimmed the Purple Knights’ lead to 7-6. Carragher tied the game with a power play goal with 3:35 remaining, setting the stage for Stevens’ heroics in the waning minutes.
The two teams were tied, 3-3, after one period, despite Southern Maine outshooting Saint Michael’s in the frame, 25-10. Smith, however, kept Saint Michael’s in the contest with 22 stops in the stanza, and goals by Caron, Watts and senior captain Matt Anctil (Wolfeboro, N.H./Exeter) offset tallies by Carragher, senior Erik Kent (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore Marc Santuccio (Gloucester, Mass.).
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. home game versus Framingham State College. Saint Michael’s looks to bounce back on Friday, as the Purple Knights host the University of Massachusetts Boston at 7 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
Southern Maine 3 1 4 --8
Saint Michael’s 3 3 1 --7First period: Scoring: 1. SMC, Caron (Thurston), 1:36. 2. SMC, Watts (Caron, Silver), 4:16 (pp). 3. USM, Santuccio (Marshall, Lounsbury), 9:37. 4. SMC, Anctil (T. Dancey), 13:33. 5. USM, Carragher (LeBlanc, Yancey), 16:38 (pp). 6. USM, Kent (Lounsbury, Stevens), 19:14.
Second period: Scoring: 7. USM, Collins (Marshall, Kent), 0:29. 8. SMC, Silver (Girouard), 11:49. 9. SMC, Thurston (N. Dancey, Mullins), 16:57 (pp). 10. SMC, Caron (Watts, Mullins), 18:10 (sh).
Third period: Scoring: 11. SMC, Thurston (Caron, Geragosian), 8:17. 12. USM, LeBlanc (Carragher, Sparkes), 8:47. 13. USM, Sparkes (Mendoza, Sloper), 13:20. 14. USM, Carragher (LeBlanc, Sparkes), 16:25 (pp). 15. USM, Stevens (LeBlanc, Lounsbury), 18:33.
Shots: USM (25 – 8 – 15 – 48), SMC (10 – 14 – 7 – 31).
Saves: USM, Beckles (8 shots, 5 saves), Ravlo at 13:33 of 1st period (23 shots, 19 saves); SMC, Smith (48 shots, 40 saves).
For complete box score, click here.
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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002