Assumption Blanks Becker, 6-0, In Worcester City Shootout Semifinals
Auburn, MA --- Assumption senior Bobby Bowden (Springfield, MA/Williston-Northampton) stopped all 44 shots he saw as he helped lead the Greyhounds to a 6-0 victory over Becker in the second semifinal of the Worcester City Shootout hosted by Worcester State at Horgan Memorial Rink.
Assumption (2-5-1) and Nichols will lock heads in tomorrow's championship as both squads make their first-ever appearance in the title game at 7:30 PM. Worcester State takes on Becker (1-6-2) in the consolation contest at 4:30.
Bowden blanked his second career opponent and he did it in style. With his 44 saves he logged the second-highest total for a netminder in the three-year history of the City Shootout and he became just the second goalie to blank an opponent.
Both marks were set by Lancer keeper Bryan Kalczynksi in a 1-0 first-round win against Nichols in the 2011-12 tournament.
The Greyhounds got the scoring started with a pair of markers that bookended the opening frame. Freshman Ryan Gomez (Wayne, NJ) potted his first collegiate tally with 2:46 off the clock before junior Ben Kuzma (East Haven, CT) tacked on other goal for the 2-0 lead at the 18:27 mark.
Becker had a sensational opportunity to get themselves back into the contest with eight minutes left in the middle period.
With the five on four advantage for nearly two minutes and the five on three edge for over 1:14 of game time, the Hawks squandered the chance. Bowden also played a role in killing three consecutive penalties as he turned aside all nine shots he saw – including five over the span of 61 seconds to stonewall the Hawks.
The effort helped the Greyhounds respond as they broke the contest open with early markers by sophomore Brandon Bete (Greenfield, MA/Northfield Mt. Hernon) and senior Ross White (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge) for the 4-0 advantage.
Sophomore Alex Erban (Attleboro, MA/Mt St. Charles) and Bete added the exclamation point with goals midway through the third for the final score.
The Hawks, who actually outshot their opponents 44-30, dominated possession of the puck in the final 10 minutes of the last frame. However, the Greyhounds special teams unit killed their last four penalties.
Becker had a frustrating evening as they were 0-for-10 with the man up advantage while Assumption did not convert any of their six power play bids.
Senior Shaun Millerick (Hampton, NH/Berwick Academy) collected 24 saves in 55:04 minutes of action before he yielded the net to freshman Tyler Stepke (Mars, PA/Three Rivers Vengeance) who was not called upon to make a save.
The last time the Hawks had been shut out by an opponent was by Tufts on November 27, 2011 in the third place game of the Rutland Herald Invitational – a run of 51 consecutive games.
Assumption tied a mark set by Becker against Nichols during the 2011-12 tournament for the second-highest total scored in the City Shootout at six markers.