Courtesy Norwich Sports Information

HENNIKER, N.H. – Freshman Coby Downs (Montclair, Calif.) scored 2:45 into overtime to lift the Norwich University men’s ice hockey team to a 3-2 victory over New England College on Saturday afternoon at the Lee Clement Arena.

With the victory, Norwich (17-5-1, 13-2-1 NEHC) needs one point next weekend when it hosts Hobart and Skidmore on Senior Weekend to clinch its 19th league regular season title in the last 20 years. Hobart sits four points behind Norwich, but the Statesmen currently hold the tiebreaker over Norwich with a 1-0-1 record vs. the Cadets this season.

Norwich fell behind 2-0 to New England College (12-9-2, 7-8-1 NEHC) but the Cadets rallied with three straight goals, including two in the third period to take the season series 2-1 vs. the Pilgrims.

Senior forward Kevin Salvucci (Plymouth, Mass.) got Norwich on the board at the 4:38 mark of the third period with a short handed goal off an assist from Carter Cowlthorp (Boissevain, Manitoba). 

Senior defenseman Alec Brandrup (Rochester, Minn.) scored a power play goal off assists from Cowlthorp and Connor Evangelista (Wakefield, Mass.) at the 10:29 mark of the third period to tie the game up at 2-2.

Downs tallied the game-winning goal by redirecting a shot from Brandrup at the point for his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Hall picked up the secondary assist.

Sophomore Tom Aubrun (Chamonix, France) stayed perfect in his career, improving to 6-0-0 after making 22 saves on 24 shots.