HOBBS SCORES LATE AS MASSACHUSETTS TIES PROVIDENCE COLLEGE, 4-4
Senior forward Danny Hobbs scores in final minute to tie game for Minutemen

Senior forward Danny Hobbs scored the game-tying goal for the Minutemen

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's hockey team and the University of Massachusetts skated to a 4-4 overtime tie Thursday night in a Hockey East game played at Schneider Arena. In a back-and-forth contest, the Friars scored with 1:39 left in the third period to take a 4-3 lead, but the Minutemen forced overtime as they scored with 37 seconds remaining.

The Friars (8-8-2, 6-4-1 HE) took a 1-0 lead at 12:05 of the first period as they scored while short handed. Senior Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) wrapped the puck around the boards to freshman Ross Mauermann (Janesville, N.Y.) who played it ahead to senior Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.). Balysky had a two-on-one rush and fired a wrist shot past UMass goalie Kevin Boyle. It marked Balysky's fourth goal of the season and the second short-handed score. The third period featured five goals. The Friars evened the score at 2-2 just 2:38 into the period when senior defenseman Steven Shamanski (Carberry, Man.) scored on a slap shot from inside the blue line as freshman Shane Luke (Dauphin, Man.) collected his first career assist in his first career game. Patrick Kiley helped the Minutemen regain the lead (3-2) at 6:19 as he tallied his first career goal. Just 1:43 later, Providence junior Tim Schaller (Merrimack, N.H.) tapped the puck into the net for his 10th goal of the season to make the score 3-3.

With 1:39 remaining freshman Stefan Demopoulos (La Mesa, Calif.) scored on a wrist shot from the right circle as the Friars led 4-3. The Minutemen then pulled Boyle for an extra skater and the Friars nearly scored an empty-net goal. However, UMass' Danny Hobbs pounced on a loose puck in front to tie the game at 4-4 with 37 seconds remaining. In the overtime period, the Friars had a power play for the last 1:24 but could not convert.

The Friars finished with a 33-32 advantage in shots as Boyle stopped 29 of them. Providence senior Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) totaled 28 saves.

The Friars are back in action at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 when they host the University of New Hampshire at Schneider Arena.

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