The University of New England (Biddeford, Maine) couldn’t hold a 5-2 second period lead on Friday afternoon, and would fall in heartbreaking fashion 8-7 in overtime to Adrian College (Michigan) in a national semifinal of the NCAA Men’s Division III Frozen Four at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Adrian College scored the first two goals of the game in the first period. #10 UNE rallied back with five straight tallies starting with a powerplay goal from Garrett Devine at 16:10 of the first, and then tied it when Alex Sheehy also scored on the extra man 1:09 into the second. Dawson Ellis, Chad Merrell, and Collin Heinold woud then score at 2:17, 6:17, and 10:26 to make it 5-2 Nor’Easters. In what most are calling one of the best Division III Hockey Tournament games in history, the Bulldogs would answer that rally by their opponents with four goals in a row and went back on top 6-5 on a score from Ty Enns with 9:54 left to play in regulation. Daniel Winslow and Jered Christy helped UNE regain the lead for the final time scoring 51 seconds apart at 15:00 and 15:51. Adrian College pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker late, and forced the overtime when Ryan Pitoscia found the back of the net with just 1:09 remaining. Alessio Luciani was the hero for the Bulldogs, sending them to the national title game off an assist from Jaden Shields and Enns 6:34 into the extra session.
Devine, Heinold, Merrell, and Christy all had a goal and an assist in the loss for the University of New England. Jake Fuss added three assists and Shea Courtmanche had two. Billy Girard made 36 saves in net, as the Nor’easters lose for a second straight season in the national semifinal ending this campaign with a record of 21-7-2. Enns had a huge game for #4 Adrian College in the win with two goals and two assists. Nic Tallarico started the game in goal playing the first 30:26 and made 15 saves on 20 shots, while Dershahn Stewart made 11 stops on 13 shots in relief to earn the victory. The Bulldogs (25-4-2), the defending national champions, will look to make it back to back on Sunday at 7 p.m. when they face either the host #2 Endicott Gulls or #3 Hobart College.
Recap by Chris Lessner
