Box Score HENNIKER, N.H.— New England College men's ice hockey forward Andreas Persson (Landskrona, Sweden) came through with the game-winning goal in the final minutes of regulation lifting the Pilgrims past the visiting Norwich University Cadets 4-3 Friday evening.
With the win the Pilgrims improve to 13-6-1 overall and 9-5-0 in ECAC East action. The loss drops the Cadets to 14-4-2 on the season and 10-2-1 in the ECAC East.
NEC struck early as Matt Abbott (Kirkland, Quebec) fired a shot that ricochetted off the left shoulder of Norwich goalie Chris Czarnota (Wakefield, Mass.) notching Abbot's second goal of the season assisted by Andre Stalberg (Alingas, Sweden) just 2:07 into the opening period.
The Pilgrims extended their lead to 2-0 just over five minutes later as Kyle Manlow (Muretta, Calif.) recorded his team-high 15th goal of the season putting in a feed from Ben Maclaughlin (Beverly, Mass.). The Cadets got on the board at the 10:06 mark as Travis Janke (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) rebounded in his initial shot assisted by Chris Duszynski (Ototoks, Alberta) and Ryan Whitell (Calgary, Alberta).
NEC came through with the lone goal of the second period as Garrett Brazzier (Mississauga, Ontario) fired in a shot over the right shoulder of Czarnota assisted by James O'Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) at the 12:37 mark.
Norwich stormed back in the third period as Whitell scored his fourth goal of the season putting in a pass from Trevor Stewart (Mission, Texas) at the 7:04 mark. The Cadets knotted the game at 3-3 at the midway point in the third as Duszynski fired a shot from the point that would beat NEC keeper Sebastian Andersson (Sundyberg, Sweden).
The Pilgrims recorded just four third period shots on net but none bigger that Andreas Persson (Landskrona, Sweden) poked in a loose puck in front of the net assisted by Abbott for the eventual game-winner at the 14:23 mark.
The Cadets had an opportunity late but the Pilgrims battled off a power-play late in the game holding on for the 4-3 victory.
Norwich finished the game out shooing NEC 47-21.
Andersson finished the game with an impressive 44 saves, while Norwich's Czarnota finished the evening with 17 saves.
New England College returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they host ECAC East foe St, Michael's College. Norwich will travel to take on ECAC East opponent St. Anselm College on Saturday, Feb. 1.
-CADETS-
