Box Score BABSON PARK, Mass. – Babson College freshman Andrew Bonazza (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) scored the game-winning goal just 44 seconds into overtime to lift the host Beavers to a 4-3 victory over the visiting University of New England in an ECAC East men's ice hockey matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Babson Skating Center. With the win, the Beavers improved to 8-12-3 overall and 8-5-3 in the conference, while the Nor'Easters dipped to 3-17-2 overall and 1-15-0 in ECAC East play.
Babson opened the scoring early in the first period, as junior Jay Haseley (Rochester, N.Y.) took a feed from sophomore Matt O'Neill (Norwell, Mass.) to the left of the crease and tucked a shot past UNE sophomore goalie Ian Edwards (Linden, Mich.) at 5:39. Sophomore Matt Furey (Quincy, Mass.) also collected as assist on the goal, which was Haseley's team-leading ninth of the season.
UNE tied the game in the opening moments of the second, as senior Ted Fabian (Oakland, Maine) dropped the puck off to classmate Kyle MacLennan (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia), who fired a wrister inside the near post from the top of the right circle for his first goal of the season at 1:17. However, Babson would regain the advantage during a 5-on-3 powerplay later in period, beginning when sophomore Ryan Heavey's (Andover, Mass.) slapper from the left point hit the near post and ricocheted into the crease. First-year Mike Driscoll (Milton, Mass.) then came in from the right side and poked it over the goal line for his seventh of the winter at 12:28.
The Beavers scored another powerplay goal early in the third period, as senior Dan Ahern (Melrose, Mass.) took a feed from Furey and wristed a shot from the right circle inside the near post at 1:41. Babson would then maintain the 3-1 advantage for the next 12 and a half minutes before UNE netted a pair of goals just over two minutes apart to force overtime.
The Nor'Easters' second goal of the night came when sophomore John Tuell (Orono, Maine) received a pass from senior captain Scott McManaman (Amherst, Nova Scotia) and blasted a slapper inside the left post from the high slot for his third of the year at 14:14. First-year Shayne Tooey (Beaconsfield, Quebec) then tied the score at 3-3 when his screened wristshot from the right point found the upper right corner at 16:17. McManaman and first-year Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.) each recorded assists on the play, which eventually sent the game into overtime.
Babson wasted little time in securing the victory in the extra session, as Bonazza scored the seventh goal of his rookie campaign just 44 seconds in. The play began when Driscoll dropped off a pass for senior captain Mike Hoban (Medfield, Mass.) on the right side, and he immediately sent it across the ice to Bonazza near the bottom of the left circle. The freshman forward then buried a shot inside the near post for the first game-winning goal of his young career.
Senior goaltender Andrew Peabody (Marblehead, Mass.) finished with 20 saves in the victory for Babson, while Edward turned away 29 shots in net for UNE.