By Marisa Goolgasian, news staff
After kicking off Homecoming weekend with a comeback win over UConn Friday, Northeastern men’s ice hockey was back in Matthews Arena Saturday night to face UMass Lowell for the second time this season.
The Huskies, who beat UMass Lowell 4-1 on their home turf two weeks ago, came out on top against the River Hawks again Saturday night in a nail-biting overtime victory courtesy of a beautiful goal from fourth-year forward Patrick Schule.
There was a lot of back and forth throughout the first period. Third-year forward Kenny Hausinger put away the first goal of the evening for the River Hawks three minutes into the game, but NU third-year defender Jeremy Davies retaliated at 8:19, scoring off a pass from first-year forward Tyler Madden.
The scoreboard remained at 1-1 until the final minutes of the second period, when UML notched two power-play goals courtesy of third-year defender Mattias Göransson and third-year forward Ryan Lohin.
Coming into the third down two, the Huskies quickly proved they were not going down without a fight.
Emulating their previous night’s performance, NU dominated the third. Third-year forward Grant Jozefek’s power-play goal, off assists from second-year forward Zach Solow and fourth-year forward Brandon Hawkins two minutes in, set the tone for the rest of the frame.
Soon, after another River Hawk goal from Lohin, the NU offense pulled it together. Jozefek’s second tally of the evening and another from Madden with under 5 minutes left in regulation brought the Huskies neck-and-neck with UML, forcing the game into overtime.
The Huskies controlled the puck throughout the extra frame. Fourth-year forward Liam Pecararo battled down low to send the puck to Schule from behind the net, who slipped it past UML goaltender fourth-year Chris Hernberg for the win just 2 minutes into overtime.
“That was one of the most grittiest, determined wins I’ve been associated with or seen from Northeastern Hockey,” said head coach Jim Madigan. “I just love the way we competed and battled in that third period.”
Next week the Huskies are on the road Friday for their fifth Hockey East game in a row versus the University of Vermont and back home Saturday night to face Rochester Institute of Technology at Matthews Arena.
