MALDEN - Sophomore defenseman Trevor John (Grosse Pointe, MI) scored the game-tying goal with 1:28 left in the third period, and then tallied the game-winning goal 39 seconds into overtime as Tufts came back for a 5-4 victory against New England College in men's hockey action on Friday night at Valley Forum II.
New England College junior Aki Uola (Turku, Finland) had given the Pilgrims a 4-3 lead at 8:09 of the third period on a goal assisted by senior Bill McGinnis (Williams Lake, BC). That margin held until the 18:32 mark when John scored the Jumbos' second power play goal of the night with assists from seniors Tom Derosa (Charlestown, MA) and Andy Davis (Woburn, MA) to make it 4-4.
In overtime, the Jumbos applied immediate pressure and forced Pilgrim goalie Aaron Harvey (Milford, NS) to make two saves. However, John came in from the point to collect the rebound of a shot by Derosa that hit the post and he fired it into the next just 39 seconds into the extra frame for the Jumbo victory.
Tufts had played one of its best periods of the young season in taking a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Freshman Kyle Gallegos (Westminster, CO) scored both goals, including a power play strike assisted by Davis.
NEC took over the momentum, and the lead, in the second period. Freshman Greg Girtatos (Tyngsboro, MA) put the Pilgrims on the scoreboard with a power play goal at 3:41. Four minutes later, junior Niko Uola (Turku, Finland) evened the score at 2-2 with his fourth of the year. An unassisted goal by junior Greg Jacques (West Hartford, CT) with 3:16 remaining in the second stanza put the visitors in front 3-2.
Jumbo sophomore Dylan Plimmer (Phoenix, AZ) scored at 7:48 of the third to tie the game at 3-3, but Aki Uola's goal just 21 seconds later put the Pilgrims back on top. That stood until John's late-game heroics won its for the hosts.
Tufts (3-2-1/2-1) had four multiple-point scorers. In addition to Gallegos' two tallies, John added an assist to his two goals, while Davis and Derosa both recorded two assists. Sophomore Evin Koleini (Buffalo, NY), playing well in place of injured All-American Scott Barchard (Reading, MA), made 30 saves including 11 in the third.
Aki Uola, with a goal and an assist, was the lone multi-point scorer for New England College (2-2/1-2). Harvey stopped 28 pucks in the Pilgrim net.
Tufts hosts St. Anselm tomorrow at 4 pm, while NEC moves on to Connecticut College for a 3 pm start.
Game Box Score
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