No. 3 Saint Anselm 3, No. 2 Saint Michael's 2 (3 OT)
Box Score
Saint Anselm comes out on top of a triple overtime thriller, the longest ice hockey game in NE10 postseason history. The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the road, but Saint Michael's came back to force overtime. 46 game-minutes later, Alec O'Connor ended the game to send Saint Anselm to their second straight NE10 Championship Final.
Connor Kelly got the scoring started for this semifinal match up about six minutes into the game for the Hawks. Hunter Hoffman and Justin Tremblay got credited with assists on the opening goal. Chris Cordeiro made it 2-0 just 52 seconds later, assisted by Isac Martins. After the first period Saint Anselm held a two goal lead, and goalie Cam Carroll made nine saves.
After a tighter first half of the second period, Saint Michael's got their first goal by Aj Sacco, assisted by Ashton Allain and Quinn McCarthy. Evan Plunkett, the goalie for Saint Michael's, made 10 saves in the period to keep the Purple Knights in the game.
Just three minutes into the third period, Sj LeComte tied the game by putting a goal past Carroll, assisted by Ian Wolanin and Ty Bloom. The next 16 minutes were filled with chances by both teams, but neither could break the tie, and the game headed to OT. After regulation Cam Carroll had 25 saves for Saint Anselm, and Evan Plunkett 31 saves for Saint Michael's.
Both teams had big chances in the first overtime. Saint Anselm got two power plays, and Saint Michael's got one, but neither team could put the game away. Carroll had 10 saves in the first overtime, and Plunkett had a whopping 16 saves. The second overtime was a much cleaner period, despite no score. Saint Anselm started the period on the power play but could not score, but still kept the pressure on Saint Michael's with eight shots in the final five minutes of the second period. Plunkett ended up making 14 saves in the second overtime, while Carroll had to make another 10.
The third overtime period started tilted towards the Hawks, as they had two shots early, but Saint Michael's controlled the puck for the next three minutes, firing four shots. After their fourth shot was saved by Cam Carroll, the Hawks took it down the ice looking to end it. Connor Kelly put a shot on net that was saved, but just three seconds later Alec O'Connor finally put it in the back of the net, and sent the Hawks to the NE10 Championship final.
Nolan King's five blocks for Saint Anselm were a big factor, as well as Cam Collins and Keaton Richards each winning 20 faceoffs for the Hawks. Saint Michael's blocked a total of 23 shots as well, and five Purple Knights had three blocks or more. Despite the loss, Evan Plunkett of Saint Michael's made 64 saves, 33 in overtime, while Cam Carroll stood strong as well with 49 total saves and 24 in overtime. Each goalie played all 106 minutes of the game, an astounding stat in a marathon semifinal.
Saint Anselm will head to Assumption next Saturday, March 7, looking for its 12th NE10 title and its first since 2023.
No. 1 Assumption 2, No. 1 Post 1 (OT)
Box Score
Top-seeded Assumption moves on to host the NE10 Championship final after an overtime victory over Post. Thomas McGaffigan scored four minutes into overtime to send Assumption to its second NE10 final in three seasons.
The first period was filled with opportunities for both teams. Post got off 14 shots on goal, all saved by Michael Salvatore of Assumption. Assumption answered with 17 shots, all saved by Benjamin Cunneen of Post. However, with just three seconds remaining in the first, Assumption committed a high stick penalty, to put Post on the powerplay to start the second period.
Post only managed one shot during its power play, and Assumption killed it off. Six and a half minutes into the second period, Leo Piandes, who took the penalty late in the first, opened up the scoring, assisted by Jake Russell and Jonathan Surrette. Assumption later was able to get two power plays in the period, but could not score. Despite the goal, Cunneen made 15 saves in the period for Post.
Post fired 15 shots in the third period, looking for any opportunity to tie the game. With about eight minutes to go, Post got its wish, as Eoin Reager scored a power play goal to tie the game 1-1. He was assisted by Aidan Canady and Jacob Howell. Assumption would get a power play of its own three minutes later. They got three shots during the power play, and 18 in the third period, but none found the back of the net, and the game headed to overtime.
Post had a fast and ferocious start to the overtime period, firing five shots in the first two and a half minutes. Assumption was able to fend off the rush, and created one of its own, with three shots in the next minute. Finally, Thomas McGaffigan scored on an assist by Luke Evers.
Post goalie Benjamin Cunneen ended with 51 saves, while Assumption's Michael Salvatore ended with 40 saves.
Assumption will be looking for its fourth NE10 title next Saturday March 7, and its second in three years. Its last title came in 2024 with an overtime victory over SNHU.
First Round: Tuesday, February 24th
Game #1: No. 3 Saint Anselm 5, No. 6 SNHU 4 (OT)
Game #2: No. 4 Post 4, No. 5 Franklin Pierce 3 (OT)
Semifinals: Saturday, February 28th
Game #3: No. 3 Saint Anselm 3, No. 2 Saint Michael’s 2 (3 OT)
Game #4: No. 1 Assumption 2, No. 4 Post 1 (OT)
Championship Game: Saturday, March 7th
Game #5: No. 3 Saint Anselm at No. 1 Assumption - TBD *
*Game times shall be subject to the availability of ice facilities. The preferred start time of the championship game is 1:00 P.M.
ABOUT THE NE10
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