Feb. 10, 2007
Endicott hosted the Vermont Catamounts Saturday night and were able to come out with a huge win after losing in a heart-breaker earlier in the season 3-2. The win was fitting, occurring on "Senior Night" for Ben Dodge, Tim Murphy and Mike Manfredi, before their friends and relatives honored them at the start of the game.
The first period started off with a hard-working Ben Dodge goal, assisted by some nice passing by Brian Sullivan and Brad Butcher as the Gulls were up by one. Several minutes later UVM was able to tie the game up while shorthanded. The Endicott defensemen had trouble clearing the puck from in front of the net and Murray was asked to make too many saves in a row, the last attempt by the Catamounts went in and the game was tied up at 1-1. Two minutes later, Endicott's, Brian Sullivan was able to put one in the back of the net and put the Gulls back on top for the second time in the game and Endicott led 2-1. At the conclusion of the first period with both teams exchanging equal play, Vermont squeezed a puck past Matt Murray to tie the game.
The second period started off with a goal from freshman Matt Nardone which put the Gulls up by one at the beginning of the period. Minutes later Gulls captain Adam Partaledis, turned from behind the net and sniped a shot just over the crouching Vermont goalie for the two goal lead and the nicest goal of the evening. The Gulls were now up by 2 and soaring high. UVM was able to strike back with a goal very similar to their first, due to Endicott's inability to clear the puck making the score 4-3.
Once again, early in the period, Matt Nardone was able to damper the hopes of the Catamounts as he picked up a puck that Mike Manfredi lost in the slot while he was leg-checked, and Nardone put the puck in the net to put the Gulls back up by 2 with 7:00 remaining in the game. The remainder of the game was a capped off by an onslaught by Vermont in a desperate attempt to score two and tie the game; their attempts fell short as they were only able to score one as they fell to Gulls 5-4.
Endicott is playing their best hockey all season and peaking just before Regionals, which are held in Rochester, NY and conference playoffs which come in the next couple weeks. Endicott travels to Cambridge on Valentines Day for an all important game against MIT which will determine First Place in the league.
