HENNIKER, N.H. -- Senior Johan Qvarfordt (Sodertalje, Sweden) scored the tying goal at 3:32 of the third period to give the New England College Pilgrims a 2-2, overtime tie with the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies in an ECAC Men's East game at Clement Arena Saturday afternoon.

            The Huskies, who tied Saint Anselm College, 4-4, on Friday, are now 5-5-4 overall and 3-3-2 in league games.  The Huskies are 4-1-4 over their last nine games.  The Pilgrims, 3-1-1 in their last five outings, are 8-5-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the league.  The two teams will meet again on February 17 at USM.

            After a scoreless first period, NEC grabbed a 1-0 lead as senior Jarkko Leppanen (Tampere, Finland) scored a power-play goal, assisted by classmate Niko Uola (Turku, Finland).  The goal was the third of the season for Leppanen.

            Southern Maine got even at 15:13 as sophomore Jamie Osborne (Grand Lake, Nova Scotia) lit the lamp for the second time this season off assists from sophomore Mike Greene (Arvada, Colo.) and junior David Nies (Brookline, Mass.).  The goal came just 14 seconds after a USM power play had expired.

USM took the lead with nine seconds remaining in the second period when junior Jon Grandinetti (Ottawa, Ontario) netted a power-play marker.  Freshman Brad McGovern (Haverhill, Mass.) and sophomore Troy Thibodeau (Danvers, Mass.) earned the assists.

            Qvarfordt forged the tie early in the third period converting a set up from Leppanen.

            The goaltenders took over from there keeping the teams off the board over the final 16:28 of the third period and the five-minute overtime.  USM sophomore Braely Torris (Eckville, Alberta) finished the game making 28 saves while his counterpart, junior Shawn Sirman (Blezard Valley, Ontario), stopped 36 shots.

            Southern Maine returns home next weekend to face nationally-ranked Castleton State College on Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Skidmore College on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).  New England College will host the University of Massachusetts Boston on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Babson College on Saturday (4:30 p.m.).

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