MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State Men’s Ice Hockey team picked up a big non-conference victory on Friday night, rallying back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the visiting Seahawks from Salve Regina, 3-2.
The nationally ranked Seahawks scored first late in the first period when Erik Udahl found the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 14:44 mark.
Udahl would strike again for Salve Regina just under seven minutes into the second period for the 2-0 advantage.
Despite being down 2-0, the Mustangs began to take control offensively, posting ten shots on goal in the second period. Layne Martin (Findlay, Ohio) would take advantage of one of those shots, with a scrum in front of the crease to bring Morrisville within one. Line-mates, CJ Stubbs (Pleasant Grove, Vt.) and Nick DeVito (Averill Park, N.Y.) picked up the assists, their third and eighth respectively.
The Mustangs continued to push the issue, and all could sense that it was just a matter of time before they would break through again. DeVito would do just that as he took a pass from Stubbs and wrapped behind the goal, depositing his shot just inside the right post to knot the game at 2-2.
The Seahawks bounced back in the third period, rattling off 8 shots on goal compared to just two for the Mustangs. However, it was one of those two shots that proved to be the difference maker. Captain Ian Wood (Pittsburgh, Pa.) found a hole, and shot up the left side of the ice, beating the Salve Regina goalie top shelf for the unassisted goal and the 3-2 advantage at the 12:01 mark in the third.
Morrisville would weather the remaining storm that was brought on by the Seahawks, including over a minute of taking on an extra skater as Salve Regina pulled their goalie in a last ditch effort to send the game into overtime.
Jared Young (Pueblo West, Colo.) picked up the win in goal for the Mustangs, denying 22 shots in the game, 14 of which came in the second and third periods.
Morrisville will return to their home ice tomorrow at 3:30 PM as they take on the Wildcats from Johnson and Wales University in another non-conference contest.
