UTICA, N.Y. – The Trine University men's hockey team recorded another favorable result against nationally-ranked competition ending their contest against Utica College in a 2-2 tie.
Neither team recorded a goal in the first period. Instead the story was another fantastic showing by sophomore Cristian Wong-Ramos who faced 15 shots in the first period, recording a save against each. It was the only period where the Pioneers, who were ranked fourth in the latest DCO/USCHO.com national poll, outshot the Thunder.
Trine opened the scoring in the second period. Junior Thad Marcola started the play by firing a shot from near the point with the save popping into the air and heading toward the wall where senior Justin Meers looked to settle it back to the ice. His pass ended up in the hands of freshman Sam Antenucci who passed back to the point where sophomore Tim Organ fired another shot on net. This time the rebound stayed low and went right back to Organ who's second shot went right through the goalie's five-hole.
The 1-0 lead ended up being short-lived with Utica scoring just over two minutes later to tie the game. They added a second goal in the 12th minute of the period to take a lead of their own at 2-1.
That score remained in the fifth minute of the third period when the Thunder gave the opposition a man advantage on a holding penalty. With seconds remaining in the power-play the Pioneers looked to set up a last push from their own defensive zone. Fifth-year senior Garrett Hallford had different plans, intercepting a pass and skating right in front of the net and putting his shot over the goalie's glove to tie the game.
The 2-2 score held through the remainder of regulation and overtime. Utica would come out on top of a shootout with the score of 1-0, but the result stands as a tie on the record of the Thunder.
Trine sits at 4-4-1 overall following the draw. They will take on Plymouth State University in their next game which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, November 27. The game will be hosted by Utica College.