WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's ice hockey team closed out its season series with Stevenson University skating to a 3-3 tie against the Mustangs on Senior Night Saturday at the Toyota SportsPlex. Stevenson earned the extra point in the conference standings taking the shootout 1-0. 
 
Wilkes stands 12-9-2 overall and 10-7-1 in UCHC games. Stevenson moves to 14-9-2 overall and 12-6-2 in league contests.
 
In a fast and furious first period the Colonels struck first just :32 into the game when Christian Blomquist (Wauwatosa, WI) scored unassisted. Four minutes later Wilkes added to its lead when Max Cocchi (Ludlow, MA) scored off assists from Nick Swain (Jackson, NJ) and Cole Jungwirth (Bloomington, MN) as the Colonels led 2-0 early in the frame.
 
Stevenson responded cutting the deficit in half at the 13:38 mark of the first period when Evan Beers scored off helpers from Austin Master and Frank Vitucci.
 
The Mustnags came all the way back tying the game at two early in the second period when Anthony Starzi scored thanks to assists from John Musella and Aidan McDowell.
 
Wilkes regained the lead for the second time when Lorenzo Marcolin (Saratoga Springs, NY) scored off a Billy Berry (Redding, CT) assist 2:40 into the third period. Stevenson answered back again when Liam McCanney found the back of the net off a Master helper.
 
Neither team could muster the game-winning goal in the extra session sending the game into a shootout for the extra point.
 
Stevenson finally broke through with a goal on its ninth attempt  to seal the shootout win.

Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda, CA) made a program single-game record 42 saves for the Colonels in the contest. Ryan Kenny made 27 saves for Stevenson.
 
The Colonels close out the UCHC regular season next weekend with a two-game series at Neumann University starting on Friday at 7:00 p.m.