MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (January 18, 2016) - Junior Dane Genord (Grand Blanc, Mich.) scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period as the Western New England University ice hockey team rallied to earn a 3-3 tie at Becker College this afternoon in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast action at the New England Sports Center.
 
With Western New England trailing 3-2 through two periods of play, Genord leveled the score with 9:16 remaining in regulation after collecting his own rebound and beating Becker junior netminder Tyler Stepke (Mars, Pa.). The Golden Bears successfully killed off a Becker power play in overtime and nearly won the game late as freshman Carlos Ross (Brockport, N.Y.) attempted to stuff home a loose puck in the crease with 16 seconds on the clock, but Stepke was there to make the save.
 
Genord has now scored in three consecutive games, while senior forward Chris Lembo (Southington, Conn.) extended his point streak to four contests with his team-leading fifth goal of the season in the first period. Freshman forward Connor Eckenrod (Ebensburg, Pa.) also found the back of the net for his first collegiate tally, while junior Kyle Williams (Rome, N.Y.), Ross and freshman Thomas Leistner (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) recorded one assist each.
 
Senior goaltender Austin Keiser (Danwoody, Ga.) started in net for the 14^th time this season, totaling 28 saves on 31 Becker shots.
 
Senior forward Tyler Auricchio (Henderson, Nev.) powered the Becker offense with three points on two goals and one assist, while freshman Dylan Durham (Dallas, Tex.) added a goal and five other Hawks chipped in with an assist. Stepke finished with 30 saves in net.
 
Lembo staked Western New England to a 1-0 lead as the Golden Bears capitalized on a power play opportunity just under four minutes into the contest, but Becker answered 44 seconds later on Durham's second goal of the season. The Hawks then took a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission as Auricchio beat Keiser with two seconds left in the period.
 
Eckenrod tied the game for the second time 1:15 into the second period, scoring the first goal of his career on a feed from Williams, but Becker again was able to pull ahead shortly after, reclaiming a 3-2 edge at the 5:14 mark of the frame on Auricchio's second of the game.
 
The evenly matched contest saw Western New England hold slim advantages in shots (33-31) and faceoffs (29-27), while both teams converted once with a man advantage.
 
Western New England (1-13-3, 0-7-1 ECAC NE) will be off for the next nine days before returning to action on Thursday, January 28 against Wentworth at Smead Arena. Becker (6-10-1, 2-5-1 ECAC NE) remains at home to host Johnson & Wales on Friday night.