Box Score Guimond Nets Game Winner
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Sam Guimond (Portland, Maine) scored a power-play goal at 4:25 of the third period to give the University of Southern Maine men's ice hockey team a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over visiting Saint Michael's College Friday evening in ECAC Men's East play at the USM Ice Arena.
The win was the third in the last five games for the Huskies, and improved their record to 4-12-0 overall and 2-9-0 in league play. The Purple Knights fell to 6-9-2 overall and 4-6-1 in the league.
Guimond netted his first goal of the season when his shot from the left-wing circle found its way past Saint Michael's senior goalie Dave Donzanti (West Chester, Pa.). Junior Daniel Mattsson (Uppsala, Sweden) and senior Lorne Miller (Montreal, Quebec) picked up the assists in the play. Mattsson had a hand in all three USM goals.
Southern Maine protected the lead over the final 15:35 as rookie goalie Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stopped all seven Saint Michael's shots on goal. Shapiro finished the night with 24 saves to pick up his fourth win of the campaign.
The Huskies fell behind 2-0 in the opening stanza as the Purple Knights picked up goals from sophomore Connor Mitchell (New Milford, Conn.) and senior AJ Pieprzak (Barrie, Ontario). Mitchell scored his second of the season at 8:55 on a shot from the high slot after taking a feed from rookie Sam Finkelstein (South Burlington, Vt.). Junior Nick Potter (Stoneham, Mass.) earned the second assist.
Pieprzak tallied his team-leading ninth goal redirecting a pass from sophomore Stephen Inman (Coventry, R.I.) up over Shapiro at 16:57.
Southern Maine began its comeback 33 seconds later when junior Chad O'Brien (Johnstown, Pa.) picked up his third goal of the season converting a helper from rookie Alex Pantalone (Hudson, Mass.). Mattsson also assisted. All three of O'Brien's goals this season have come against the Purple Knights.
Late in the second period, rookie Brett Norman (Dawson Creek, B.C.) equalized as the Huskies took advantage of a 5-on-3 advantage. Norman took a pass from Mattsson about 25 feet out and beat Donzanti to the right side. Junior Zach Dymock (Dutton, Ont.) earned the second assist.
The Purple Knights pressed for a tying goal in the final minute and lifted Donzanti for the extra skater with 58 seconds to play but were unable to find the net.
Southern Maine will host nationally ranked Norwich University on Saturday (4:00 p.m.). Saint Michael's travels to the University of New England on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
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