Saint Michael's edges Greyhound ice hockey in Northeast-10 Conference quarterfinals

February 28, 2009

Saint Michael's 5, Assumption 4

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Senior forward CHRIS HEALEY (Salem, NH) scored two goals and added an assist to lead Saint Michael's College past Assumption College, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 Conference playoffs SATURDAY at the Buffone Rink.

Freshman forward TAYLOR LARSEN (Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy), earlier named the conference Freshman-of-the Year, had a goal and two assists and freshman forward MARC LABB (Longmeadow, MA/Vermont Academy) added three assists to lead the Greyhounds' attack.

Healey opened the scoring for the Purple Knights at 4:21 of the first period with a power-play goal, his 18th goal of the season. Sophomore forward BRENDAN RIMMER (Newbury, MA/Pingree) and senior forward RYAN MERO (Peekskill, NY/Avon Old Farms) assisted on the play.

It took the Greyhounds 34 seconds to tie the game as freshman forward DENNIS SILVIO (Beverly, MA/Proctor Academy) scored his sixth goal of the seaosn with assists from junior forward ADAM GAUDREAU (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) and senior forward FRANK BOVA (Princeton, MA/Wachusett). Mero's 13th goal of the season put Saint Michael's in front, 2-1, at 6:18.

The Purple Knights made it 3-1 at 1:54 of the second period on junior forward/defenseman KYLE MARQUIS 's (Richmond, VT) second goal of the season. The Greyhounds then tied matters with two goals 52 seconds apart.

Sophomore forward PATRICK FITZGIBBONS (Holliston, MA/Saint John's) from Labb and Larsen netted his ninth of the season at 5:22 and then Larsen scored on the power play from Labb and freshman forward PAT O'KANE (Hollis, NH/Williston-Northampton) at 6:14.

The wild second period continued as the Purple Knights again took command with goals from Healey (his 19th) and sophomore defenseman MATT RIGTRUP (Upper Montclair, NJ/Pickering) at 19:58 to assume a two-goal margin (5-3) entering the final period. Sophomore JAMES CAPULLI socred his first goal of the season from Larsen and Labb to make it a one goal game at 7:08.

Senior goalkeeper TYLER BILTON (Penticton, BC/Finlandia) made 34 saves in goal for the Purple Knights, while freshman NICK BLANCHETTE (Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy) had 43 for the Greyhounds.

The Greyhounds finished their season at 6-16-4, while Saint Michael's is now 9-15-2.

Click here for ASSUMPTION-SAINT MICHAEL'S box score