JUMBOS CLINCH HOME PLAYOFF GAME WITH 4-2 WIN AT PLYMOUTH

COLLEGE HOCKEY FINAL SCORE
Tufts 4    Plymouth State 2

at Plymouth, N.H.
Tuesday, February 15, 2000

Scoring: 1st Period T, Chad Pessini (unassisted) 3:08; 2nd Period T, Natan Obed (Rob LaQuaglia, Mike Carceo) 10:39; T, Justin Picone (unassisted) 11:51; 3rd Period: T, Drew Carleton (Carceo, Picone) 9:53; PSC, Dave Lebel (Chad Fitzpatrick, Tom  Beaulieu), 11:38; PSC, Rich Vega (Erik Nadeau) 19:23 ppg.

Saves: T, Ian Kell 21; PSC, Larry Forgue 22, Craig Michalowski 10.

Shots: T, 36; PSC, 23.

WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. -- The Tufts University hockey team will host its first playoff game in more than a decade after clinching one of the top four spots in the ECAC Northeast Conference post-season with a 4-2 win at Plymouth State on Tuesday night. The victory improved Tufts to 9-2-1 in the league for 19 points, which assures them of at least fourth place. With a big game at Wentworth on Thursday, the Jumbos are still vying for first place in the league. The tournament champion will move on to the NCAA playoffs.

At Plymouth, Tufts built a 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-2 victory at Waterville Valley Ice Arena. The win improves the Jumbos to 11-7-1 overall, while the Panthers drop to 5-10-2 overall and 4-5-2 in the Northeast, fighting for their play-off lives.

Tufts led 1-0 at the end of one period on sophomore defenseman Chad Pessini's (Mansfield, MA) first career goal. The Jumbos extended their lead to 3-0 with a pair of markers in a span of 1:12 midway through the second period, junior Natan Obed (Goosebay, NFLD) scoring at the 10:39 mark and junior Justin Picone (Ellington, CT) connecting at 11:51.

Senior Drew Carleton (Shaker Heights, OH) made it a 4-0 game at the 9:53 mark of the third period with his team-high 19th goal of the season and 75th of his career at Tufts. The Panthers broke the shut out on a goal by Dave Lebel with 8:22 remaining in regulation, then senior Rich Vega closed out the scoring with a powerplay goal in the final minute.

Tufts sophomore Ian Kell (St. Paul, MN) made 21 saves in net for his 10th win of the season (8-2-1 in league) as the Tufts defense was again outstanding. The Jumbos have allowed 2.48 goals per game in league play this season. PSC sophomore Larry Forgue made 22 saves in the first two periods before giving way to sophomore Craig Michalski, who made 10 third-period saves in his collegiate debut.

Tufts will host a playoff quarterfinal on Saturday, February 26.

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