Brown Loses 3 Goal Lead to Settle for Tie Against Cornell

Brown news release…

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Zack Pryzbek (Niagara on the Lake, Ontario) registered a pair of goals and sophomore Tim Ernst (Pickering, Ontario) stopped 29 shots as the Brown men’s hockey team tied Cornell, 3-3, in Friday evening’s ECAC Hockey and Ivy League contest at Meehan Auditorium.

Brown moved to 8-17-3 overall and 5-13-3 in the ECAC to remain unbeaten over the last six games, while Cornell now stands at 11-11-6 on the season and 9-8-4 in the conference.

In addition Pryzbek’s two goals, junior Nick Lappin (Geneva, Ill.) also scored to give Brown a 3-0 lead after the first period, but the Big Red answered with two goals in the second and the equalizer in the third to even the game. Cole Bardreau’s goal for the Big Red with 13.1 seconds left in overtime was ruled no good after video review confirmed goaltender interference.

Rookie Tim Lappin (Saint Charles, Ill.) chipped in with two assists. Ernst made 13 saves in the third period and seven in overtime to secure the tie. Mitch Gillam made five saves and gave up three goals, before giving way to Hayden Stewart, who made 12 saves.

Brown raced out to an early lead when Pryzbek notched his first tally of the contest at 1:40. Tim Lappin carried the puck down the right side and charged at the net, but the Big Red defense was able to poke the puck loose at the last second in the slot. From there, the puck bounced off Davey Middleton‘s skate toward the goal, before Pryzbek pushed it through for the early lead.

Nick Lappin gave the Bears a two-goal lead at 9:13 with his sixth goal over the last seven games. After Mark Naclerio (Milford, Conn.) won the faceoff in the offensive zone, Matt Lorito (Oakville, Ontario) swooped in and carried the puck behind the net. Lorito’s wraparound attempt was just wide, but Lappin was right there for the tap-in to push the home side in front, 2-0.

Pryzbek scored again at 13:38 with a rocket from the left circle to give the Bears a three-goal advantage. Tim Lappin picked up the assist on the play. Brown outshot the Big Red by an 8-2 margin in the first period.

Cornell charged back with a pair of goals late in the second period, starting at 14:45, when Matt Buckles scored right in front of the net to put the visitors on the board. Cornell added another tally at 18:06, when John McCarron tipped home a shot from Jacob McDonald to pull the Big Red within one, 3-2, at the second intermission.

After Christian Hilbrich tied the game at 5:32 in the third, the two teams went back and forth with a series of odd-man rush chances, but neither team could find the back of the net. Brown’s best opportunity came with 4:30 left in the third when Naclerio rifled a shot that rattled off the crossbar, paving the way for extra time.

Ernst made seven saves in overtime to keep the Big Red at bay and Bardreau’s late strike was waved off after video review to seal the draw.

Brown returns to action tomorrow for Senior Day and regular season finale when the Bears host Colgate at 4 p.m. Tickets for all Brown men’s hockey games can be purchased online, calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or walking up to the Box Office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.