Mass Attack Opens 2011-12 Season With 3-3 Tie At Northeastern

Oct. 7, 2011

BOSTON - Northeastern scored with two seconds left in regulation to force a 3-3 overtime tie against the UMass hockey team in the season-opener for both teams on Friday night at Matthews Arena. T.J. Syner, Branden Gracel and Colin Shea each scored goals for the Minutemen (0-0-1), while Kevin Boyle started in goal making 29 saves in his collegiate debut.

Braden Pimm scored the game-tying goal for Northeastern (0-0-1) after the Huskies pulled goalie Chris Rawlings with one minute left in the 3rd period. Rawlings finished the game with 36 saves including five in overtime.

UMass finished the game outshooting Northeastern 39-to-32 including 5-to-1 in overtime. The Minutemen took eight penalties for 24 minutes - including a 10-minute misconduct and a pair of 5x3 penalty kills in the second period.

Shea put the Minutemen on the board first with a power play goal for inside the left faceoff circle nearly seven minutes into the game. Just over nine minutes later, Justin Daniels scored for Northeastern to tie the game, 1-1.

The two teams added a pair of goals separated by nine seconds as Daniels scored his second of the game at the 17:50 mark of the first period. On the ensuing faceoff, Gracel took control of a loose puck wristing a shot from just above the right faceoff circle to tie the game again 2-2.

Syner gave the Minutemen a 3-2 lead at the 4:10 mark of the third period after UMass had escaped a penalty-filled second period relatively unscathed.

With Rawlings out of the net for the final minute of regulation, Northeastern applied heavy pressure before finally chipping home the game-tying goal after a scrum in front of Boyle.

UMass carried the play in overtime, but was unable to find the game-winner.

The Minutemen will open their home slate next Friday, October 14 against Bentley in the Mullins Center.

Scoreboard