University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Hockey Wins 2-1 in Overtime Over Colgate
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
HAMILTON, N.Y. (November 24, 2007) - The University of Connecticut men's hockey team won its third overtime game in as many weekends Saturday, with a 2-1 non-conference win over Colgate that earned a split of the weekend series. Andrew Olson (Alexandria, Minn.) scored the overtime winner for the Huskies. UConn improves to 4-7-0 overall, while Colgate falls to 5-7-2.
After a competitive but scoreless first period, in which the Huskies out shot the Raiders 8-7, UConn came out firing to start the second. The Huskies peppered Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich with 12 shots in the first half of the period, compared to only four for the Raiders. Despite the shot advantage they were unable to put one in. At the 11:50 mark, Colgate was able to get on the board when Tom Riley beat Husky goalie Beau Erickson (Hinton, Iowa). The Raiders held Connecticut to only two shots for the rest of the period, and went into the second intermission with a 1-0 lead.
Colgate out shot the Huskies 8-1 to start the third period, but Erickson was strong in net to keep UConn within one. Connecticut survived that initial onslaught and began to turn the tide and control play in the Raider zone. At the 11:53 mark of the third period, B.J. Bayers (St. Louis Park, Minn.) was able to control a face-off and beat Dekanich for his first goal of the season and fourth of his career to tie the game at 1-1. At the 18:51 mark, Matt Miller was called for boarding, giving the Raiders the chance to win the game in regulation. Beau Erickson came up with two big saves however, and the game went to overtime.
Erickson made another save early in overtime, and UConn was able to kill off Colgate's power play attempt. After a Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, Minn.) shot was saved, Olson was right in position to put the rebound into the back of the net for his sixth of the season, and give the Huskies the victory.
For the game, UConn out shot Colgate 36-34, the first time this season the Huskies have out shot their opponent. Olson and Bayers tied for the team lead with four shots each, while Erickson tied a season high with 33 saves.
Connecticut returns to Atlantic Hockey Association play next weekend with a home-and-home series against rival Holy Cross. The Huskies will host the Crusaders on Friday, November 30 at 7:05 p.m. at the Freitas Ice Forum. They then travel to Worchester, Mass. for the rematch on Saturday, December 1. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Hart Center.
