GORHAM, Maine  --  The Tufts University Jumbos scored four unanswered goals over the final 28 minutes to erase a two-goal deficit en route to a 5-3 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC East-NESCAC interleague game Saturday at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win gave the Jumbos a sweep of their two-game weekend road trip to Maine as they defeated the University of New England on Friday, 4-2.  The Jumbos are now 11-8-3 overall and 7-7-3 in league play.  The Huskies, winless in their last eight games (0-7-1), fall to 8-12-3 overall and 5-9-3.

            Southern Maine jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first 22 minutes of the game as junior Jon Rutt (Scarborough, Maine) scored all three goals for his first career hat trick.  Rutt scored 62 seconds into the game, and added a power-play goal at 16:59 to give the home side the early advantage.  Junior Tom Derosa (Charlestown, Mass.) put the Jumbos on the board with two seconds remaining in the period with the first of four Tufts power-play goals.

            Rutt completed his hat trick netting a power-play goal at 1:56 of the second period.  Junior Zach Diaco (Rumson, N.J.) netted a man-advantage goal at 12:07 of the frame to pull the visitors back within one.

            Freshman Trevor John (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) tied the game with a power-play marker at 4:28 of the third period.  Sophomore Matt Amico (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the game winner at 8:06, and junior Dylan Cooper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) potted an insurance goal, the Jumbos fourth power-play goal, at 13:51.

            Sophomore goalie Scott Barchard (Reading, Mass.) protected the lead for Tufts through the third period, stopping all 20 shots he faced.  He finished the game with 41 saves.  Freshman Tim Gerrish (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) registered 24 saves before being lifted for the extra attacker with 1:59 to play.

            Cooper finished the game with a goal and two assists to lead the Tufts attack.  John and Derosa each had a goal and an assist.  Senior Chris Travis (Scituate, Mass.) picked up a pair of assists for USM.

            Southern Maine finishes the regular season next weekend hosting Wesleyan University on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Trinity University on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).  Tufts concludes the regular season hosting Saint Michael's College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and nationally-ranked Norwich University on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).

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