PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Regis College junior Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.) scored the game-tying goal with five seconds remaining before burying the game-winner in overtime to lead the Pride to a 9-8 win over Johnson and Wales University on Saturday afternoon.

The Pride continue their torrid start to the season, improving to 7-1 overall with the win, while JWU falls to 3-5.

Regis jumped out to the 2-0 lead in the opening quarter with goals from Alex Ferran (Miami, Fla.) and Jack O'Brien (Milton, Mass). Ferran's goal was registered :14 seconds in and assisted by Grant Nordlund (Miami, Fla.) while O'Brien's was the final goal of the first quarter with 11:22 remaining.

The Wildcats got on the board under two minutes into the second quarter with an unassisted tally by freshman Eric Russo (West Grove, Pa.) bringing the score to 2-1. Freshman Max Stone (Burlington, Conn.)tied things up at two with 9:59 remaining before the Pride tallied two unanswered to close the half, including the first of the afternoon for Nicky Rodrigo (Miami, Fla.). RC took the 4-2 lead into halftime holding 17-14 advantage in shots.

JWU opened the second half with three straight to take their first lead of the afternoon, 5-4, with 6:56 remaining. Russo buried the first just :33 seconds into the half before freshman Sam Sears (Baltimore, Md.) evened things up and junior Julian Bandareck (Topsfield, Mass.) gave the Wildcats the goal lead. RC's Peter Leighton (Wilmington, Mass.) tied things up before the end of the third quarter with an unassisted tally with 2:55 remaining.

The Pride took the goal advantage early in the fourth when a pass from Andrew O'Reilly (Hollis, N.H.) set up Calvin Brault's (Colchester, Vt.) second of the game with 12:36 remaining in regulation. JWU responded immediately when sophomore Brian Hillenbrand (Portsmouth, R.I.) picked up a groundball off the faceoff and ran straight in to score just eight seconds later. The Wildcats grabbed a one-goal lead twice in the next ten minutes before a penalty set-up Regis with :12 seconds remaining tied 8-8. Rodrigo took the ball up field and buried the game-tying goal with :05 remaining to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Rodrigo took control once more just :29 seconds into overtime as he used a pass from Leighton out in front of the Wildcat net to give Regis the 9-8 victory.

Regis is back in action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Salem State University at 5:00 p.m.

Release courtesy of Johnson & Wales Sports Information