Box Score REISTERSTOWN, Md. -- Stevenson men's hockey knocked off eighth-ranked Wilkes with an overtime tally from Eric Olson in a back and forth conference clash on Wednesday afternoon.
A game that saw Stevenson battle back (11-5-1, 7-3-0) on multiple occasions in the second and third periods, the Mustangs recorded their first win against a ranked foe this season. Chad Watt scored the game-tying goal in the second, while Alex Rivet knotted the score midway through the third. Ryan Kenny continues to close in on the program's all-time save mark with 33 stops this afternoon.
Wilkes (13-4, 10-2-1) had a four-game winning streak snapped after responding to take the lead in the second and third behind three different goal scorers.
- The opening 20 minutes saw plenty of up and down action with tight checking by both sides.
- The Mustangs had a few early looks on a man advantage, including a chance from Rivet at 4:48. Frank Vitucci had a pair of scoring chances moments later as the Mustangs looked for the game's opening goal.
- Kenny turned aside a chance from Nick Fea at 19:25 as the period ended scoreless.
- It didn't take long for Stevenson to break through offensively in the second with a tally Mac Lowry, who finished off a goal from Liam McCanney and Anthony Starzi at the 1:03 mark. Wilkes responded with several looks as Kenny and the Mustang defense remained up to the task.
- Wilkes notched the equalizer about midway through the period as Jimmy O'Kane found the back of the net to level the score.
- Just over one minute later, the Colonels took a 2-1 lead off a marker from Tyler Dill at 11:17.
- The intense action persisted as Stevenson tied the game at two with a goal from Watt, who scored off a pass from Graeme McCrory at 12:29. Neither side threatened on a Stevenson power play and Kenny registered three stops over the final three minutes of the stanza.
- Wilkes came out with a high level of energy to start the third, and eventually moved in front just over six minutes in following a marker from Xavier Abdella.
- Kenny turned aside three more chances before Stevenson once again answered back, this time with a goal from Rivet at 12:29. Evan Beers and Kyle Lightfoot were credited with assists on the equalizer.
- The intensity picked up a notch as Kenny and Nick Pidro each stepped up between the pipes over the final 10 minutes of the period. Each side had a man advantage over the last 10 minutes, including one for Wilkes right near the end of regulation.
- With plenty of time and space to work with, Stevenson countered back on the offensive end as Olson sniped the game-winner from the left side at 1:40 in the extra session.
- Three of the last five opponents for the Mustangs have been ranked inside the top 10 nationally.
- Kenny is now 43 saves of tying the all-time program mark for career saves.
- Olson posted his first goal of the season, notching the game-winner off the rush.
- After an early goal in the second period, there were three more in a 2:25 span with the score level at two.
- Stevenson is now 2-0-1 in overtime this season, with both wins coming inside Reisterstown Sportsplex.
- Stevenson moved to 5-4 all-time against Wilkes with the victory
- Stevenson: The Mustangs visit Neumann on Friday, February 4 for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.
- Wilkes: The Colonels host Arcadia on Friday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m.
