BOX
SCORE
BABSON PARK, Mass. - Host Babson College scored three unanswered
goals in the second period to overcome an early 1-0 deficit en
route to an eventual 4-2 victory over the visiting University of
Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC East men's ice hockey matchup at
the Babson Skating Center on Friday night. With the win, the
Beavers improved to 6-7-1 overall and 5-5-0 in the conference,
while USM dipped to 7-9-0 overall and 4-6 in the ECAC East.
After a scoreless and penalty-riddled first period, Southern
Maine struck first when senior Eric Morgani (Reading, Mass.)
converted a breakaway feed from classmate Dan Gordon (Springfield,
Mass.) at 5:38 of the second. The lead would be short-lived,
however, as junior Gabriel Chenard-Poirier (St. Augustin,
Quebec) sent a laser into the upper right corner from the
left point on a Babson powerplay at 7:30.
The Beavers would tack on two more goals in the final 5:05 of
the second to take a 3-1 advantage into the second intermission.
Senior JT Balben (Wayland, Mass.) scored the
first off a centering pass from senior co-captain Brad
Baldelli (Northboro, Mass.) at 14:55 and first-year
Mike Hoban (Medfield, Mass.) netted the second
when his wrister found the upper right corner off a pass from
senior Alex DiPietro (Winthrop, Mass.) at 18:58.
Babson continued its attack early in the third, as first-year
Cody Carlson (Peterborough, N.H.) scored his first
collegiate goal on a wrap-around just over four minutes in.
Southern Maine would get one goal back when sophomore Paul Conter
(Woodbridge, Ontario) scored at 9:07 of the third, but that would
be all the Beavers 'defense would allow as the hosts claimed
the 4-2 victory.
Babson first-year goalie Andrew Peabody (Marblehead,
Mass.) made 23 saves in the first 54 minutes in net before
being forced to leave with an equipment problem. Senior
Skylar Nipps (Orlando, Fla.) came on to blank the
Huskies over the final six minutes, making four stops. Freshman
Koray Celik (Ile-bizzard, Quebec) played all but one minute in goal
for USM, finishing with 31 saves.
The two teams combined for 25 penalties in the contest, including
12 in the opening period. Babson scored on one of its three
powerplay chances, while the Huskies were held scoreless on seven
man-up opportunities.
