KEENE, N.H. – Alfred Rotiroti scored off a feed from Damon Kiyawasew following a Keene State College turnover behind their own net with 30 seconds left in overtime as Rivier University spoiled the Owls' men's ice hockey home opener – and their first varsity home game in nearly 40 years – with a 6-5 win on Friday night at Keene Ice.

Highlights
Postgame Interview (Bobby Rodrigue)

The Owls (0-1-0) got a pair of goals from Marcus Chrisafideis and three assists from Thor Hansen while twice erasing two-goal deficits, but could not overcome taking 11 penalties and giving Rivier eight power play opportunities.  After KSC fought back from a 3-1 deficit to tie it at three, the hosts were assessed a major penalty that gave the Raiders a five-minute power play 12 minutes into the second period.  Seven seconds later a slashing call made it a 5-on-3 Rivier advantage, and it did not take long for the visitors to cash in, as Jon Tavella put them back ahead 4-3 by scoring two men up, and 2:23 later Jake Laville made it a two-goal lead again with a power play tally.

Chrisafideis potted his second of the night from Hansen and Kyle Gonzalez by sniping a shot into the short side on Luke Newell with 2:20 left in the second period to give the Owls life heading into the third, and Sean Gray tied it 5-5 with five minutes to go in regulation after KSC had gotten the better of the Raiders in the third period.

Keene State also controlled the overtime session, but Newell made four stops including a pair on captain and Franklin Pierce University transfer Declan House to keep his team alive, and pressure by Rivier behind the Owls' net late in overtime on their only real chance of the period proved to be the difference along with the home team's 25 penalty minutes.

Six of the game's 11 goals were scored in the second period – three apiece for each team, and three on the power play (two by Rivier, one by KSC).  The Owls fell behind by two for the first time in the game (3-1) when Carter Poulin scored 40 seconds into the period, but Chase Carney responded only 32 seconds later and Chrisafideis' first goal at the 7:05 mark made it 3-3 before KSC's ill-time penalty trouble.

Rivier had a 39-28 edge in shots, though most of that came thanks to a 15-5 advantage in the opening 20 minutes.  It seemed it would be a 1-1 game through one when Sean McBride opened the scoring of the new hockey era at KSC with 1:20 left, but the Owls surrendered a Cormac Hayes goal with 30 seconds left as the Raiders carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

Will Slohm made 21 stops in the opening 35:32 before Ben Skelton entered in relief and made 12 saves in the final 28:58.  Newell stopped 23 in a winning effort, 14 of which came in the third period and overtime when the ice started to become titled toward the Owls.  Skelton made five stops down the stretch to keep it 5-5 through regulation.

The Owls are back at it tomorrow (Saturday, November 2) for their first road contest when they travel to face Vermont State University Castleton (0-1-0) for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.  The Spartans, who lost 6-3 at home while allowing three power play goals to No. 9 State University of New York at Plattsburgh tonight, will be a member of the newly-formed 10-team Little East Conference in men's hockey next season.