December 3, 1998

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - In a rare Thursday night HOCKEY EAST tilt, the Merrimack College Warriors defeated the Providence College Friars, 3-2, at the Volpe Complex in North Andover, Mass.

PC benefited from a miscue by the Merrimack defense to get on the scoreboard first. Jerry Keefe broke down the right side and sent a centering pass towards the goal which deflected off a Merrimack defenseman's stick past netminder Tom Welby at 3:51 of the first period.

West Warwick's Mike Omicioli tallied the Friars' second goal of the night when he broke in all alone on Welby. Omicioli faked his forehand and put a backhander by Welby at 11:14 of the second. However, the Friars' two-goal lead was short lived as Merrimack scored two goals within 36 seconds to even the game. Vincent Clevenger one-timed a shot on a two-on-one break in at 12:44 and John Pyliotis rifled a wrist shot past Friar netminder Mark Kane at 13:20 for the final goal of the second period.

Merrimack took its first lead of the game at 4:23 of the third peirod when Nick Torretti came out of the corner with the puck and snapped a backhander past Kane just over his glove hand for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

With the win, Merrimack raised its record to 7-5 overall , while Providence fell to 6-7 overall .

Providence returns to action on Friday, Dec. 4 against Merrimack at PC's Schneider Arena at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 3, 1998

Volpe Complex, North Andover, Mass.

Providence College (6-7) 1 1 0 -- 2 3-6 0-3

Merrimack College (7-5) 0 2 1 -- 3 3-6 0-3

Per Time Team Goal Scorer (Assists)

1 3:51 PC Jerry Keefe 9 (Fernando Pisani, Leigh Dean)

2 11:14 PC Mike Omicioli 9 (Fernando Pisani, Jerry Keefe)

2 12:44 M Vincent Clevenger 3 (Chris Halecki, Andrew Fox)

2 13:20 M John Pyliotis 3 (Kris Porter, Rejean Stringer)

3 4:23 M Nick Torretti 4 (Ron Mongeau, Mike Rodrigues)

Saves:

Mark Kane (PC) 12 10 12 --34 (59:31)

Tom Welby (M) 12 7 8 --27 (60:00)

Attendance: 803 (Volpe Complex)