PLYMOUTH, N.H. — In a game that featured the top two scoring offenses in NCAA Division III men's ice hockey, Endicott defeated No. 13/13 nationally ranked Plymouth State University, 8-2, on Thursday evening at the Hanaway Rink.
Endicott received a pair of goals via Josh Bowes (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) and a four-assist night from Daniel Kucerovy (Bethel Park, Pa.) to highlight the win.
Trailing 2-1 entering the second period, the Gulls rattled off seven straight goals over the next 40:00 of action to put the contest away.
Hunter Luhmann (Lebanon, N.H.) evened up the game at 2-2 with his third tally of the season at the 2:50 mark of the second period, while Ross Olsson (Billerica, Mass.) followed with the eventual game-winner at 8:36 (power play). Bowes then capped the scoring at 12:35 for a 4-2 lead headed into the break.
Meanwhile, in the third period, James Winkler (York, Maine), Bowes, Jason Kalinowski (Stamford, Conn.), and Luke Rodgers (Clarkston, Mich.) all found the back of the net to extend the Gulls' winning streak to four straight games, which includes back-to-back wins over nationally ranked opponents (No. 5/7 UNE, Score: 7-3, Date: 12/1/18).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott improved to 2-1-0 in the all-time series against Plymouth State.
- The Gulls ended Plymouth State's undefeated start to the 2018-19 season (8-0-1).
- Prior to tonight's game, the Panthers had the second-longest unbeaten streak in NCAA Division III men's ice hockey (First: Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 10-0-2).
- Plymouth State also ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III in scoring offense at 5.56 goals per game.
- Conor O'Brien (Pinellas Park, Fla.) made 34 saves to improve to 4-2-1. O'Brien has stopped 30 or more shots in five out of seven games played this season.
- Senior defenseman Carter Horwitz (Tustin, Calif.) opened the scoring for Endicott at 7:22 of the first period. It was his fifth goal of the season, which sits three shy of tying his career-high for a single season.
- Plymouth State's No. 13 national ranking in both the D3hockey.com and USCHO.com matches its highest national ranking in program history.
- The Gulls are 7-8-3 all-time against nationally ranked opponents in program history and 3-3-0 this season versus nationally ranked teams.
- The Panthers are now 5-1-0 at home this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (7-3-1) hosts Amherst on Monday, December 31 at 1 PM. No. 13/13 Plymouth State (8-1-1) travels to the No. 11/11 University of England Nor'easters on Friday, January 4 at 7 PM.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)