BABSON PARK, Mass.—First-year Egan Schmitt (Schuylerville, N.Y.) tallied a goal and an assist, including his first career goal 3:47 into overtime Saturday evening to lift No. 7 Babson College to a 3-2 non-conference victory over Plymouth State University in the men's ice hockey season opener inside the Babson Skating Center.

The Beavers defeated the Panthers for the fifth straight time to open the season at 1-0 while Plymouth State, which made its season debut Friday night with a 1-1 tie against Plattsburgh State, drops to 0-1-1.

Senior James Perullo (Revere, Mass.) scored once and first-year Mike Stevens (Massapequa, N.Y.) tallied his first career goal in the win for the Beavers, and senior Andrew Holland (Winchester, Mass.), junior Thomas Kramer (Bridgewater, Mass.) and first-years Will Holland (Charlotte, N.C.) and Ian Driscoll (Middleton, Mass.) all collected assists. Senior Nolan Hildebrand (Penticton, B.C.) made 28 saves to record the victory in goal for the hosts.

Sophomores Anton Jellvik (Taby, Sweden) and Carson Lanceleve (Stewiacke, Nova Scotia) each tallied their first goal of the season for PSU, classmate Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Nfld.) recorded a pair of assists and senior Jovan Zimmerman (Boulder, Colo.) added one helper. Senior Brandahn Brawley (Morton, Pa.) made a career-high 49 saves in goal in the loss.

Babson had a 16-7 advantage in shots in the first period and 23-12 in the second frame but it was the visitors who opened the scoring at the 8:35 mark of the second stanza. Stuckless stole the puck along the left boards in the Babson zone and sent a centering pass to Jellvik in the slot and he fired a shot into the right side of the goal for a 1-0 PSU lead.

The Beavers evened the score with 3:44 remaining in the second when Perullo picked up a loose puck in front after a save by Brawley and buried the rebound to send the teams into the third period tied at 1-1.

Babson had a chance to take the lead early in the third period with a man-advantage but a shot from the right point by junior Colby Bailey (Southborough, Mass.) hit the left post and was covered up by Brawley. Less than a minute later Plymouth State created a Beaver turnover in their defensive zone and Lanceleve capitalized with a shorthanded goal at 2:25.

The lead didn't last long as Schmitt found Stevens in front from behind the net and Stevens buried the shot into the left side to tie the score at 5:55. Babson had another power play opportunity in the third period but could not convert, sending the game to OT.

PSU was whistled for its fifth penalty midway through the extra session and Babson converted a power play game-winner when Schmitt fired a wrister just inside the right post from the right circle.

Babson finished with a 52-30 advantage in shots and went 1-of-5 on the power play.

The Beavers open defense of their New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) title next weekend with a trip to western New York to take on No. 5 Hobart on November 4 and No. 9 Elmira on November 5. Plymouth State opens Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play Thursday at Fitchburg State.

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers lead Plymouth State 6-1-1 in the all-time series that dates back to the 2002-03 season..
• Babson has won three straight season openers and four of its last five season debuts.
• The Green and White were not called for a penalty in a game for the first time since a 4-2 win over Amherst on January 2, 2016.
• The 52 shots against Plymouth State was the most Babson shots in a game since getting off 58 in a 7-5 win over Tufts on November 23, 2021.