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Junior Assistant Captain James Florentino scored in overtime to defeat Suffolk, 2-1 |
Florentino Sinks Suffolk, 2-1 OT
Bridgewater, Mass. - James Florentino (West Roxbury/Xaverian) blasted home the game-winner, 2:34 into the overtime period, to lift Stonehill past the Suffolk Rams, 2-1. The win improves to the red-hot Skyhawks to 7-6-1 overall and avenges a 6-2 loss to the Rams earlier this season. Florentino's overtime heroics earn the Purple and White their second straight win, and their fifth victory in the last six games.
Two outstanding defensive periods resulted in a 0-0 stalemate
headed into the final frame. At the start of the third of the
period, rookie Mike Manna (Framingham,
Mass./Xaverian) remained spot-on, stopping all 20 of the Rams
shots-on-goal. Fellow freshman goaltender Jeff Rose proved to
be reliable as well, denying Stonehill after 29 shots.
Momentum would shift in the home team's favor when Paul
Reissfelder (Plymouth, Mass./Tilton) scored just 1:33 into
the third period. His 360-degree move caught Rose off-guard
for the first marker of the afternoon.
Suffolk answered back with a flurry of desperation shots in front
of Stonehill's net. On a Suffolk power play, senior Tim
Dancey rebound the puck and tipped it past Manna to even the score
at 1-1. A scoreless eight minutes resulted in an overtime period.
Florentino brought the crowd to their feet minutes later with a blistering slap-shot over Rose's left shoulder. The goal is his second marker of the year. For the second straight game, Stonehill hung on to defeat their opponent by a one-goal margin.
Manna finished with 26 saves to improve his record to 5-2-0. Billy Ninteau (Litchfield, N.H./Bishop Guertin) and Brian Davis (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) each earned assists on Stonehill's two goals.
The men return to the Bridgewater Ice Arena twice next week to take on Nichols College Wednesday night and Assumption on Saturday. The Skyhawks showdown with Nichols is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.