ROCHESTER, NY – Graduate student Ray Falso scored a pair of goals and moved up the career records lists at Nazareth College as he led the Golden Flyers to a 5-2 victory over Chatham Saturday afternoon in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) game at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.
With the win, Nazareth (7-10-2 overall, 6-5-1 UCHC) moved into third place in the UCHC standings and is set to face the No. 5 team – Stevenson – Sunday to complete the weekend conference series. The Golden Flyers are three points ahead of Manhattanville and six points in front of Stevenson.
Falso led the Golden Flyers Saturday with a pair of goals including the eventual game-winner and an empty net goal to cap the scoring. The two goals move the veteran into second place on the all-time points list and the all-time goals list at Nazareth. He now has 34 goals and 37 points in a school-record 109 career games.
He is just eight points from Oliver Janzen's record of 80 career points and just one goal behind the James MacDonald career goals total of 35. Falso is currently tied with Dominick Gabaj on both lists.
Chatham (5-8-2, 4-4-2 UCHC) opened the scoring with 4:16 left in the first period but senior Cole Moore scored to tie the game less than a minute later and the teams went into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
A power play goal by freshman Ethan Louisos on a nice passing play set up by fellow freshman Ryan Turse and sophomore Johnny Jackson gave the Golden Flyers a 2-1 edge early in the period.
Falso scored his first goal of the game with 2:35 left in the stanza to push the Nazareth lead to 3-1. Jackson and senior Mitch Culver had assists on the play.
The Cougars took the momentum away at the end of the period with a goal at the 19:32 mark of the period to trim the lead to 3-2 as the second period ended.
In the final period, freshman Liam Quinlivan scored his fourth goal of the season midway through with an assist from twin brother Anthony to regain the two-goal lead for the Golden Flyers at 4-2 with 11:41 left to play.
Late in the period, with Chatham using the extra attacker, freshman Josh Dressler stole a clearing attempt and sent a quick pass to Falso who scored into the empty net for the final score.
Nazareth held a slim 25-23 edge in shots and freshman Matt Sayles made 21 saves to earn his seventh win of the season in the Golden Flyers goal.
Nazareth will skate against at 1 p.m. Sunday against Stevenson. The Mustangs lost a 5-2 decision at Utica Saturday for its third consecutive loss. Earlier this season, Nazareth dropped a 6-5 overtime decision at Stevenson.