GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Ross James (Orono, Maine) scored the game-winning goal at 3:11 of overtime to give Connecticut College a 3-2 win over the University of Southern Maine Friday night in an ECAC East-NESCAC interleague game at the USM Ice Arena.
The win was the second straight for the Camels, and improved their record to 6-14-1 overall and 5-10-1 in league games. The Huskies, winless in their last six games (0-5-1), slide to 8-11-3 overall and 5-8-3 in league play.
James scored his second goal of the game in overtime when his wrist shot from the blue line found its way through a maze of players in front of USM rookie goalie Tim Gerrish (Saranac Lake, N.Y.). Junior Greg Lever (Orangeville, Ontario) and sophomore Dustin Laren (Wilmette, Ill.) drew the assists.
The Camels came back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to force the game into the extra session. James got the Camels on the board at 5:58 with his first goal of the season. Sophomore Julien Boutet (Amos, Quebec) tied the game at 11:36 when his one-timer from the top of the right wing circle found the net for a power-play goal.
Southern Maine built its two-goal advantage with a single goal in each of the first two periods. Junior Zach Joy (Dover, N.H.) potted his team-leading 19th goal of the season, assisted by senior Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) in first period. Senior Pat Noonan (Burlington, Mass.) tallied his sixth goal of the season in the second period.
Senior goalie Greg Parker (Trenton, Ontario) backstopped the Camels stopping 26 of 28 shots he faced to pick up his fifth win of the season. Gerrish, making his third start of the season for USM, registered 35 saves.
Southern Maine returns to action Saturday (4:00 p.m.) when it hosts Tufts University. Conn. College will play at the University of New England on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
-ble-