Friday, January 12, 2007
NORTHEASTERN, VERMONT SKATE TO 2-2 TIE
Freshman Brad Theissen makes 24 saves for Northeastern
Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - Northeastern scored the final two goals of the game to extend its unbeaten streak to four games with a comeback, 2-2, tie with Vermont on Friday night at Matthews Arena. Junior Jimmy Russo scored the tying goal 55 seconds into the third period and freshman goalie Brad Thiessen made 25 saves.

The tie moved Northeastern's record to 6-10-4 and 3-8-4 and Vermont went to 11-8-2 overall and 6-4-2 in Hockey East. The Huskies and Catamounts also tied their first game this season, 2-2, on Oct. 14 and rematch for the final game of the series on Saturday night at Matthews Arena.

Down, 2-0, entering the second period, freshman Randy Guzior got the Huskies on the board when he scored from the slot at 7:21. Freshman defenseman Jim Driscoll passed the puck from the boards to Guzior, who was open and took it up the middle to beat Vermont goalie Joe Fallon for his fourth goal of the season. Sophomore Dennis McCauley also got an assist on the play.

The Huskies evened the score on Russo's goal at 0:55 in the third period. Bryan Esner left the penalty box after a high-sticking call and stole the puck in the Northeastern zone. Esner sped up the ice for a breakaway and got a shot off that Fallon saved. The rebound went right to Russo, who backhanded it in for his third goal of the season.

Vermont's Dean Strong scored his 12th goal of the season to open the scoring at 15:04 in the first period. Colin Vock passed the puck from behind the net to Strong in front. Thiessen saved Strong's first shot and he was able to score on his own rebound.

The Catamounts made it 2-0 when Viktor Stalberg scored with an assist from Brayden Irwin at 19:51 in the first period.

Northeastern's 2-0-2 unbeaten streak is its first since Oct. 23-Nov. 14, 2004, when Northeastern had a five-game (4-0-1) unbeaten streak. The Huskies are 4-2-2 in their last eight games.

The Huskies and Catamounts rematch on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Matthews Arena. The game will be on TV live on Comcast CN8, on the radio on 890 ESPN Boston and WRBB 104.9 FM and on live web video on GoNU.com. The game will complete a Matthews Arena doubleheader after the men's basketball team takes on Hofstra at noon.