Overtime not kind to Huskies at home
Senior captain Cole Maier scored off a goalmouth scramble 23 seconds into overtime to give Union a 4-3 win and spoil Northeastern’s home opener before 2,223 fans at Matthews Arena last night.
The 20th-ranked Dutchmen (30-0) were led by a three-point effort by first-line senior center Brett Supinski, who had a pair of goals and an assist in his 100th career game.
“I thought (NU) deserved a better fate,” Union coach and Springfield native Rick Bennett said. “I like the fight in our locker room but we need to be a lot better. The one guy (goalie Darion Hanson) you need, especially if you’re trying to steal a game, was good.’’
Northeastern (2-1-0) wasted two-point efforts by freshman center Tyler Madden (goal, assist), All-American defenseman Jeremy Davies (two assists) and redshirt right winger Brandon Hawkins (two assists).
“A disappointing loss,” said NU coach Jim Madigan, whose Huskies have a chance for redemption in the series wrapup tonight. “We created some chances for ourselves but we gave up 29 shots. We have to defend better. Our better guys need to be better. We have to be tighter.”
No. 12 Northeastern, coming off a two-game road sweep at Sacred Heart in which nine different players lit the lamp, wasted little time jumping in front. Hawkins shoveled the puck from behind the net out to senior left winger Lincoln Griffin low in the right circle. Griffin snapped a high shot stickside for his first goal and fifth point of the season.
Union defenseman Joseph Campolieto pulled down NU forward Zach Solow at 5:16 of the first period and was sent off with a minor penalty. The Huskies power play went to work with Davies firing a blast from the left point and Madden deflecting the puck past Hanson (37 saves). It was the third goal of the season for Madden, who is on a goal-agame pace.
NU captain Eric Williams incurred a slashing minor at 10:58 but the Dutchmen couldn’t dent the Huskies protection around sophomore goalie Cayden Primeau (25 saves). NU enjoyed a 2-on1 break as the Williams penalty expired but Hanson made a terrific stop on John Picking.
Union kept plugging away and answered at 15:03 when Supinski slid a loose puck home during a scramble for his first goal of the season. Union gathered steam and pulled even at 17:13 with a shorthanded goal. Northeastern turned the puck over along the far boards and Sean Harrison slid the puck to Supinski alone in the slot. The center deked before switching to the backhand to put the puck behind Primeau, who was hung out to dry on the play.
“You can’t give goals away,” Madigan said.
Union sophomore Brandon Estes made the defensive gem of the night when he cleared a rolling puck off the goal line to deny Hawkins of a goal at 1:34 of the second period.
NU regained the lead at 7:48 by cashing in a second power-play goal with a shot from the right by Canton’s Liam Pecararo, a University of Maine transfer. It was his second goal and fifth point in three games.