Saracino nets late winner as Hawkeyes (RoughRiders) nip Tri-City, 4-3

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nick Saracino and the Iowa Hawkeyes finally became friends Saturday night.

You might remember the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders center came up on the wrong side of a friendly wager with his housing parents last winter, having to wear a human billboard in public proclaiming his love for the Hawkeyes after they beat his native Missouri in the Insight Bowl. Having his picture run in The Gazette only added to his embarrassment.

But Saracino came up big on “Hawkeye Night” at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, pouncing on a fat rebound for the game-winning goal with 3:05 left as the RoughRiders edged the Tri-City Storm, 4-3, before 2,609 fans. Saracino's Hawkeye/RoughRider jersey, as well as those of all of his teammates,' were auctioned postgame to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

“They beat me,” Saracino said. “I'm just glad they could help me beat Tri-City.”

Gerald Mayhew won a faceoff in Tri-City's zone to start the winning play. Defenseman Ian Brady took a shot from the right point that glanced off Tri-City goalie Pheonix Copley's pads and caromed directly to Saracino alone in front of the net.

Slam dunk.

“It hopped right on my stick,” Saracino said.

“I thought we played well at times,” said Riders Coach Mark Carlson. “I thought when we were able to get pucks in deep, we were effective.”

Thomas Forgione scored off a Tri-City turnover at 9:01 of the first period to give Cedar Rapids (12-11-7, 31 points) the game's first goal. Tri-City got the next two, but former Storm forward Davey Middleton tied it late in the second period and helped put the Riders ahead in the first minute of the third by springing teammate Stu Wilson loose for a breakaway he was able to convert into a short-handed goal.

Josh Henke turned a bad turnover into the tying goal, stealing a Chris Dienes pass at the Cedar Rapids blue line and going in alone on Riders goalie Jake Hildebrand. But Saracino helped his team split its two games this weekend with his timely winner.

Here is the game boxscore:

http://ushl2011.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1660575