Special Teams Key Wilkes Men's Ice Hockey Comeback Victory at Neumann
ASTON, Pa. – Two shorthanded goals in the third period erased a late deficit, allowing the Wilkes University men's ice hockey team to earn a 5-4 overtime victory at Neumann University on Saturday evening.
The Colonels improved to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) with the win.
Neumann opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at 12:39 before Jivan Sidhu (Burnaby, BC/) tied the score with a powerplay tally assisted by Devon Schell (Scarsdale, NY/) just over two minutes later. The Knights scored even strength at 16:28 to retake the lead, but it was not for long when Schell scored a goal of his own at 16:56, assisted by Chris Dalfarra (Warrington, PA/) and Taylor Bommarito (Sterling Heights, MI/) to tie the score, which is where it stood as both team left the ice for the first intermission.
Neumann retook the lead with two goals in the second period, one at even strength with 4:21 elapsed, and one with the man-advantage at 9:03, with the Knights holding a 4-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Wilkes began its comeback with one exceptional penalty kill as Phil Erickson (Eau Claire, WI/) and Tyson Araujo (Oak Bluffs, MA/) scored unassisted shorthanded goals to tie the score at four with 12:47 left in the game following Araujo's goal. The score remained tied as the third period came to an end.
The Colonels wasted little time sending the fans home as Michael Gurska (Revere, MA/) picked a pristine time to register his first collegiate goal 1:42 into the extra period with assists from Tyler Barrow (Massapequa, NY/) and Jay Gallagher (Reading, MA/).
Brandon Gordon (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/) made 22 saves for Wilkes to earn his fifth win of the season.
Schell led Wilkes with two points and plus-three rating.
The Colonels return to the ice on Friday when they host Utica College, who is receiving votes in both the latest USCHO.com and D3Hockey.com Division III national polls for a 5:00 p.m. UCHC contest at the Toyota SportsPlex.
