Tilton topples Berwick in OT

TILTON, NH –Berwick scored three unanswered goals in the second period tonight to take a 3-2 lead over host Tilton, but they couldn't quite hold on. Rafe Gaughan (Somersworth, NH) stopped 46 of 50 shots and Tyler Gaulin (Kingston, NH) continued his torrid pace with two more goals.

 

The Bulldogs weren't without their chances to put this one away, as Greg Stohrer (Dover, NH) was stopped on a breakaway with the game tied 3-3 and five minutes left. Thirty seconds into overtime, Gaulin hit the crossbar on his own breakaway.

 

Down 2-0 after one, Gaulin scored twelve seconds in to the second. Freshman Spencer Aubin (Dover, NH) continued showing signs of a young leader by taking a vicious hit that set off a Berwick flurry of goals. After Aubin’s effort put Berwick on the man advantage, Berwick went on a 5 on 3 moments later. Gaulin took a feed from Chris Dowd (Danville, NH) and buried it with authority, secondary assist going to Tanner Derby (Newburyport, MA). Then Jack Merecki (Stratham, NH) got on the board as he tipped in Connor Derby's (Newburyport, MA) shot, secondary assist going to Dowd.

 

Despite Gaughan's stellar effort, Berwick gave this one away with three crucial defensive zone turnovers that led directly to Tilton goals. For a team that has averaged fewer than three goals per game, this is a difficult way to play hockey. Sophomore Alex Ramsay (Yarmouth, ME) gets his first Berwick start tomorrow in the home game against Portsmouth Abbey at 4 p.m.