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Freshman Nick Pappas scored his first two collegiate goals in the game
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MALDEN - Senior Mike Vitale (Brookfield, IL) scored 4:28 into the third period to break a 5-5 tie and give the Tufts University hockey team an eventual 6-5 win over visiting University of New England in NESCAC/ECAC East play on Friday night at Valley Forum II.
Senior Zach Diaco (Rumson, NJ) and freshman Nick Pappas (Alpine, NJ) both scored twice for Tufts, which ended a 12-game losing streak. The Jumbos improved to 5-14-1 overall and 4-12 in league play. Senior Jack Nolin (Somersworth, NH) and freshman Sean Sullivan (Worcester, MA) had two goals apiece for UNE, which fell to 4-17 and 1-15.
The Jumbos came back from a 5-3 deficit in the second period to win. Pappas, who had scored his first career goal earlier, made it a 5-4 game with another at 15:46 of the second period. A minute into the third period, senior defenseman Andy Davis (Woburn, MA) scored on a power play for Tufts to tie the score at 5-5, leading up to Vitale's game-winner.
Diaco, who entered the game with one goal this year, scored twice in the first 7:07 to help the Jumbos take an early 2-1 lead. Nolin had scored his first of the game for the Nor'Easters at 6:38 to briefly tie the score at 1-1. Nolin's second of the game at 15:40 of the first tied the score at 2-2, and then sophomore Paul Kashmanian (Grand Island, NY) put the visitors up 3-2 heading into the first intermission by scoring with 39 seconds left in the period.
Pappas' first career goal tied the score at 3-3 just 2:16 into the second period. However, a five-minute major and simultaneous two-minute penalty whistled against Jumbo freshman Brendan Fadden (Concord, MA) led to a long power play for the Nor'Easters during which Sullivan scored twice. His tallies at 8:17 and 10:04 put UNE ahead 5-3.
Later in the period, Tufts had a five on three advantage for 1:49 during which they could not take advantage. However, the Jumbo offense would score three unanswered goals to earn the victory. With their goalie pulled, UNE had a goal disallowed with 11 seconds left in regulation due to the net being off its moorings.
Tufts had four players finish with multiple-point games, including senior Tom Derosa (Charlestown, MA) and junior Matt Amico (Buffalo, NY) with two assists each. Freshman goalie Brian Phillips (Colleyville, TX) earned his first collegiate victory with 26 saves.
Five Nor'Easters finished with multiple points. Sophomore defenseman Russ Franey (York, ME) had three assists, while classmates Tyler Fleurent (Biddeford, ME) and Adam Laite (Sydney, NS) recorded two assists. Senior Mike Roper (New Glasgow, NS) stopped 31 shots in net for the Nor'Easters.
Tufts plays its final home game of the season tomorrow at Valley Forum II in a 4 pm face off against Southern Maine. UNE is at Connecticut College tomorrow for a 3 pm start.
Game Box Score
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