(Photo Courtesy of St. Bonaventure Athletics)
Behind a career-best 27-save performance from Brett Dobson, the St. Bonaventure Bonnies took down the Siena Saints 12-10 to advance to their first-ever MAAC title game appearance.
Dobson wasn’t the only Bonnie to put together a career day on Thursday night as Jackson Rose scored a career-high six goals to lead the way for the St. Bonaventure offense. That included the final two goals of the contest as Rose helped seal the deal and ensure the victory for the Bonnies.
Roses’ final two scores were just two of five fourth-quarter goals for St. Bonaventure as they outscored Siena 5-2 in that final frame after trailing 8-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Pratt Reynolds (2G/2A) scored the two final goals of the third quarter to give the Saints that one-goal lead. It marked the first time Siena has held a lead since being up 1-0 within the first few minutes of the contest.
St. Bonaventure produced two three-goal runs in the first half of play to help push out ahead 6-3 with 7:08 remaining in the second quarter. However, following that 6-2 run, Siena started to settle in as they outscored the Bonnies 5-1 from the 6:53 mark of the second trough Reynolds’ two scores late in the third that pulled the Saints back into this one.
During that stretch, Chris Yanchoris made three of his eight saves on the day for the Saints.
Dylan Pape went 17-for-24 (70%) at the faceoff dot.
Manhattan Tops Marist in OT
The Manhattan Jaspers were outshot 45-31, out ground balled 41-27, and went just 8-for-27 at the faceoff dot. Yet, it was the Jaspers who walked away victorious as they defeated the Marist Red Foxes 13-12 in overtime on their home field.
Down 7-4 midway through the second and amidst a 6-1 Marist run that seemingly swung all the momentum the Red Foxes way, Manhattan fought back. The Jaspers would outscored Marist 8-5 for the remainder of regulation and 9-5 through the final buzzer.
That included a four quarter that saw Manhattan knot things up early in the frame off a Justin Malpica score and then take their first lead, 12-11, since the first quarter as a Brendan Krebs save ricocheted all the way across the midline and Tadhg O’Riordan was able to grab the ground ball and take it to the rack.
Joshua Balcarcel put away his second goal of the game to tie things up for Marist and send this one into overtime, but not much of that extra frame would be needed. Off the opening faceoff, a ground ball scrum ensured and the ball found its way towards Kyle Gucwa (3G), who grabbed the rock and put in the game-winner within seconds to send Manhattan back to the MAAC title game for a second consecutive season.
Marist had an open look at the cage near the end of regulation to possibly grab the win, but Brendan Krebs was there to make the save. He ended the day with nine stops.
Liam Walshe had eight goals to lead the way for the Manhattan offense. All of his goals came during the first half as he scored eight of their first 10 goals.
James Lyons led Marist with six points off four goals and two assists. Kellen Pulera had a hat trick.
St. Bonaventure and Manhattan will play in the MAAC title game on Saturday at 10am on ESPNU.
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