THIRD-PERIOD GOAL GIVES JUMBOS 2-2 TIE AGAINST CASTLETON

MEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY FINAL SCORE
Tufts 2, Castleton 2 OT

At Malden, MA
Friday, January 29, 2010

Game Box Score

Junior Mike Vitale had assists on both Tufts goals

MALDEN -- The Tufts University Jumbos and the Castleton State College Spartans played to a 2-2 tie in NESCAC/ECAC East men's hockey crossover action on Friday night at Valley Forum II.

The tie ended a five-game losing streak in league games for the Jumbos, who are now 8-7-2 overall and 4-6-2 in the conference. The Spartans (6-7-5, 4-5-3) have now picked up points in eight of their last nine games.

Visiting Castleton swarmed the Tufts end in the first period, finishing with a 19-4 advantage in shots. However, they were only able to put one in the net. Junior Stuart Stefan (Delhi, ONT) scored his 12th of the season, flipping in a rebound at 10:46 of the opening period. Tufts sophomore goalie Scott Barchard (Reading, MA) made 18 saves in the first 20 minutes.

Late in the second period, Tufts tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by junior defenseman Andy Davis (Woburn, MA) with 3:52 remaining until the intermission. However, the Spartans regained the lead 83 seconds later when senior assistant captain Kirk Bolduc (Lewiston, ME) lifted a shot past Barchard with 2:29 remaining in the second.

The Jumbos scored the tying goal 8:47 into the third period when freshman defenseman Trevor John (Grosse Pointe, MI) deftly put a shot from the slot inside the right post. The first-year blue liner now has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 17 games.

The Spartans continued to have more offensive pressure, finishing regulation with a 49-23 advantage in shots. Both teams put two shots on goal in the extra session, to no avail.

Barchard finished the night with 49 saves, improving to a .943 save percentage on the season. Castleton freshman Arthur Hollinger (Homer Glen, IL) made 23 saves in 65 minutes.

Tufts junior Mike Vitale (Brookfield, IL), with two assists, was the game's only multiple-point scorer. Both squads were 0 for 4 on the power-play. Tufts had defeated the Spartans, 5-2, earlier this year to win the Rutland Herald Invitational. Tonight, Castleton had two goals disallowed during the game, one that was ruled pushed in by a glove and the other because the net was off its moorings.

The Jumbos welcome Skidmore College to Valley Forum II tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm. Castleton travels to Connecticut College for a 3:00 start tomorrow.

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