Box Score Sherman Nets Game-Tying Goal in the Third Period
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.) scored an unassisted goal at 7:58 of the third period to give the University of Southern Maine Huskies a 2-2 overtime tie with the visiting New England College Pilgrims in New England Hockey Conference action Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.
The tie left the Huskies with a 2-14-2 record overall and a 1-8-2 mark in NEHC action. The Pilgrims are now 8-11-1 overall and 3-8-1 in the conference.
Sherman picked off a pass at the NEC blue line, deked around a defender and skated in alone on rookie goalie Lindsay Powers (Stittsville, Ontario). Sherman placed her wrist shot over Powers' glove hand and under the cross bar for her fifth marker of the season.
Powers and USM rookie netminder Britney Evangelista (North Smithfield, R.I.) both came up big over the final 12 minutes of regulation and through the five-minute overtime to preserve the tie. Evangelista forced senior Rachel Vigliano (Monroe, N.J.) to shoot wide on a partial breakaway in the waning seconds of the third period, and stoned rookie Alexa Scribner (Falmouth, Mass.) on a breakaway in the first minute of the overtime.
Evangelista finished the game with 19 saves, including five in the overtime session. Powers made 25 saves, including two in overtime.
Southern Maine took a 1-0 lead early in the first period converting on the power play. Junior Lynn Kozlowski (Stoneham, Mass.) deposited a rebound behind Powers after the goalie stopped junior Ally Vanidestine (Bangor, Maine) in close at the right post.
NEC tied the game at 13:16 when Vigliano scored her ninth goal of the season out of a scramble in front of Evangelista.
The Pilgrims took a 2-1 lead in the second period with a beautiful passing play while on the power play. Juniors Demi Latham (Redwood City, Calif.) and Tori Polehonka (Chino, Calif.) connected on a D-to-D pass across the blue before Polehonka hit senior Morgan Braniff (Tustin, Calif.) diagonally through the Husky defense. Braniff took a look and beat Evangelista over the left shoulder for her seventh goal at 19:37.
Southern Maine finished with a 27-21 edge in shots on goal and converted on 1 of 6 power-play opportunities. New England College was 1 for 4 with the extra skater.
The Huskies travel to Plymouth State University for its next game on Friday (6:00 p.m.). New England College is at Saint Michael's College next Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
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