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Brown University
3-11-0, 1-7-0ECAC
Providence
14-6-1, 6-4-0HEA
Men's Hockey Edged by No. 14 Providence, 3-2, in Overtime
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior Nick Lappin (Geneva, Ill.) evened the score late in the second period to eventually send the game into overtime, but Shane Luke scored with 16 seconds left in extra time to give No. 14 Providence College the win over the Brown men's hockey team, 3-2, in the first game of the 29th Annual Mayor's Cup Friday at Meehan Auditorium.
Providence improved to 14-6-1 on the season, while the Bears dipped to 3-11 overall. The two teams will play game two of the two-game Mayor's Cup series tomorrow at Schneider Arena at 7 p.m.
Brown nearly secured the victory 31 seconds into overtime when senior Matt Lorito (Oakville, Ontario) found the back of the net, but the goal was waved off after video review, when an attacking player involved in the play was called for goalie interference.
In addition to Lappin, junior Mark Naclerio (Milford, Conn.) scored for the Bears, while Lorito and freshman Josh McArdle (Roscoe, Ill.) had two assists apiece. Sophomore Tyler Steel (Vernon, British Columbia) made a season-high 39 saves for the Bears, while Jon Gillies stopped 29 shots on the other end.
Brown jumped on the scoreboard just 3:32 in the contest when Naclerio notched his third goal of the season. The Bears raced out on the offensive to start the game, resulting in back-to-back shots by McArdle and Lorito, but Gillies could not stop the third attempt as Naclerio tipped in the rebound to make it 1-0.
Providence evened up the score less than two minutes later at 5:52 when Shane Luke took advantage of a turnover in front of the blue line and buried the shot past Steel to tie the game, 1-1.
Providence threatened late in the period with a power play at 2:47, and remained in Brown territory for the rest of the stanza, but the Bears kept the Friars at bay to preserve the 1-1 score at the first intermission. The two teams were even in shots, 11-11.
Providence took advantage of consecutive Brown penalties midway through the second period. The Bears managed to kill off 37 seconds of the 5-on-3, but could not stave off the complete power play, as Nick Saracino scored on a rebound at 10:33 to make it 2-1.
Despite just two shots in the opening 15 minutes of the period, the Bears regained composure in the waning minutes with multiple shots on target, before Lappin scored with 17 seconds remaining to tie the game. Lorito slid a pass through the slot to McArdle, who rifled a shot from in front of the blue line, before Lappin re-directed the shot past Gillies to even it up at 2-2.
After a scoreless third period, Lorito's goal was waved off for goalie interference early in overtime. The two teams traded chances over the next four minutes, but the Friars secured the win at 4:44 when Luke notched his second tally of the contest.
Brown will play Providence College tomorrow at Schneider Arena in the second game of the Mayor's Cup Series. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. Brown's next home game is on Friday, Jan. 16 against Yale at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all Brown men's hockey games can be purchased online, calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or walking up to the Box Office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
