Canisius Rallies For Tie With Sacred Heart

January 16, 2004

Courtesy of Canisius Sports Information Department

MILFORD, Conn. - Freshman Billy Irish-Baker scored the game-tying goal with 34 seconds remaining in the third period as the Canisius College ice hockey team skated to a 2-2 draw with Sacred Heart University Friday evening at the Milford Ice Pavilion. Canisius improves to 4-7-6 overall and 4-4-3 in Atlantic Hockey and carries the nation's third longest unbeaten streak at five games (3-0-2), behind #1 North Dakota (12 games) and defending national champions Minnesota (seven games).

Sacred Heart took an early 2-0 lead after the first period, in part due to a couple of unfortunate bounces for the Griffs. The Pioneers opened the scoring at the 4:07 mark of the game on a goal by Marc-Andre Fournier. A Canisius attempt to clear the puck from the defensive zone found the skate of junior defenseman Mark Perisck and bounced into the slot where a shot by Rocco Molinero was kicked aside by Canisius goalie Bryan Worosz and the rebound was deposited into the open net by Fournier. Fournier added his second of the night with 38 seconds remaining in the period when his shot from the slot slipped past a screened Worosz for a 2-0 Pioneer lead.

Canisius rebounded with a goal in the second period by sophomore Andrew Dawe, his fourth of the season. Dawe scooped up a rebound off a shot by senior Daryl Pierce and beat Sacred Heart goalie Kevin LaPointe on the glove side to cut the Canisius deficit to one goal at the 10:10 mark. Sophomore Jon Durno also assisted on the goal. Canisius was on the verge of defeat when Irish-Baker took a pass from Pierce in front of the net and beat LaPointe as Canisius was with the extra attacker after pulling Worosz with under a minute remaining in regulation. Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the overtime period, but Worosz and LaPointe held ground for each team to earn the draw. Worosz posted 25 saves for Canisius, while LaPointe finished with 30 stops for the Pioneers.

The Griffs return to the ice to face the Pioneers in a 5:00 p.m. rematch

tomorrow afternoon at the Milford Ice Pavilion.