(Canton, N.Y.)- Zack Skook scored with 28 seconds left in overtime lifting John Carroll University past SUNY Canton 4-3 in the first round of the 2nd Annual Terry Martin / Pride's Corner tournament Saturday at the Canton Pavilion.
The Roos, the defending champions of the tournament, played their third straight overtime game and saw their four-game winning streak snapped as they moved to 8-8 overall and will play Norwich University in the consolation game on Sunday. John Carroll will play Cornell University in the championship game as the Big Red beat the Cadets 5-2 in the second game.
SUNY Canton dominated the Blue Streaks in the third period and overtime out shooting them 15-5 but John Carroll's Nick Fabrizio made several solid saves to keep his team alive.
With time winding down in overtime, the Roos made a costly mistake behind their own net trying to clear their zone as the puck popped free out front and Skook banged it in for his second goal of the night.
SUNY Canton led 2-0 after the first period despite being out shot 21-19. Corey Frizell (Orleans, Ontario) scored his first of two goals at the 9:09 mark from Rob Liggio (Canton, N.Y.) and Adam Fedor (Orleans, Ontario). Eric Cook (Cary, N.C.) then tallied a power play goal at the 15:35 mark off assists from Cory Bercume (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Garrett Rosenbaum (Charleston, S.C.).
John Carroll stormed back in the second period to tie the game, taking advantage of five SUNY Canton penalties and scoring twice with the man advantage. Geoff Abrahams and Skook each scored to deadlock the game and then Nick Morici scored with 2:52 remaining in the period to give the Blue Streaks their first lead of the game.
SUNY Canton wasted no time tying the game as Frizell scored his second goal three minutes into the final period. Liggio and Dylan Gronowski (Buffalo, N.Y.) assisted on Frizell's goal. But despite putting on heavy pressure the remainder of the game and keeping the puck in the offensive end, the Roos could not solve Fabrizio who finished with 30 saves.
Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.J.) stopped 22 of 26 shots for the Roos.
