Seahawks and Knights tie on opening night

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – The Salve Regina University men's ice hockey team plays to a tie with Neumann University in the first game of the 2014 season at Portsmouth Abbey on Saturday night.

The Seahawks and Knights played to a 2-2 tie after 60 minutes to force overtime. Last season it took overtime to determine a winner between these two, and tonight was no different, except this time, a winner could not be decided in the extra frame. Neither team scored in overtime and the season begins with a tie for both squads.

The Seahawks jumped on top first with a power-play goal from Evan Shultz (Durham, N.H.) 16:38 into the first period. Shultz was able to put the puck in off a rebound opportunity in front. Alex Pompeo (Hingham, Mass.) and Marc Biggs (Piano, Texas) were credited with the assists on the first Seahawk goal of the season.

The Seahawks carried their lead into the intermission, but the lead was not long lived in the second period. Dan McDougall (Clinton Township, Mich.) scored off a Salve Regina turnover in defensive end to tie the game 33 seconds into the period.

Salve Regina would retake the lead when Biggs top-shelved a one-timer from the point 7:09 into the second. Shultz kept a play alive along the boards and found John Scorcia (Hudson, Fla.) who was able to work his way into the slot then slide a pass out to Biggs for the drive that gave Salve Regina their second lead of the night.

The lead would hold for most of the game as the Seahawks defense stood strong in their own end, limiting quality looks at the net for the Knights and working hard along the boards to dig pucks out and clear the zone.

Late in the third period the Seahawks upped the offensive pressure and were in search of a put-away goal. However after a prolonged possession the Knights were able to generate a quick rush. Liam Board (Burlington, Ontario) took a pass from Steve Low (Haddonfield, N.J.) and slashed through the neutral zone and found daylight on the left wing for a wrist shot that sailed past the glove of Salve Regina net minder David Chiokadze (Langhorne, Pa.) into the net to tie the game at 14:58.

Despite generating plenty of shots on goal the Seahawks were not able to find the back of the net again in regulation and the teams headed to overtime for the second straight year.

Salve Regina would have a golden opportunity in overtime when Liam Board, who scored the tying goal, was called for hitting from behind and sent to the box for two minutes. The Seahawks couldn't convert the power-play chance however and team returned to even strength with 1:25 to play in overtime.

The Seahawks almost won the game in the final seconds when a deflection in front of Neumann goalie Ben Curley (Dunrobin, Ontario) popped into the air and looked like it had a chance to fall behind the net minder for a game-winning goal. Instead it fell just to the side of the net and time expired as players fought for possession.

It is the first time that Salve Regina and Neumann have tied. The all-time series between the two clubs now stands at 2-2-1.

Salve Regina will next play on November 6, 2014 on the road versus Stonehill at 7 p.m.

Neuman will host Elmira College on November 7 at 7 p.m.