Hamilton College's Evan Haney '14 scored the game-winning goal just 1:20 into overtime and Hamilton College earned a 3-2 non-conference victory over SUNY Potsdam at Hamilton’s Russell Sage Rink on Jan. 20.
Anthony Ruberto '13 started the play with a pass to Marko Brelih '16 from the right faceoff circle to the left one and Brelih fired a shot that was stopped by the Potsdam goalie. Haney was there to poke in the rebound for the game-winner.
Ten of Hamilton’s 16 games have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie. The Continentals have won six of their last seven meetings with the Bears.
Haney finished with two goals and one assist and Pat Curtis '15 added one goal and one assist. Brian Infante '13, Brelih and Ruberto all recorded one assist. Ruberto leads the team with 12 points and Brelih has a team-high eight assists.
Joe Quattrocchi '14 stopped 30 shots in the win. Quattrocchi’s goals against average stands at 2.65 and his save percentage is .912.
Billy Pascalli '16 and Adam Place '14 tallied one goal apiece for the Bears. Zach Blake '15, Mike Riley '16, Matt Viola '13 and Trevor Cope '15 were credited with one assist each. Viola is tied for fourth in Division III with one assist per game. Jon Hall '16 turned aside a season-high 37 shots.
Hamilton (5-8-3 overall) tested Hall early and often with 10 shots in the opening 10 minutes of the first period. The Continentals went on three power plays during that time, but came up empty. Potsdam finally registered its first shot on goal with eight minutes left in the period while on the power play. The period ended in a scoreless tie.
Potsdam (6-11-1) leading scorer Mike Arnold '14 picked up a game misconduct just 1:52 into the second period, and gave Hamilton a five-minute power play. Arnold, who is second in Division III in goals per game, missed the remainder of the contest. Another penalty on the Bears gave the Continentals a two-man advantage for 26 seconds, but the home team didn’t capitalize.
Hamilton finally broke through midway through the second period. Haney scored on a rebound at the 9:21 mark after shots by Curtis and Infante were denied. The Continentals extended their lead to 2-0 on Curtis’ short-handed goal with 4:38 left in the period. Haney had the initial shot and Curtis followed the miss and put the puck in the back of the net.
About four minutes later, Potsdam had a two-man advantage for 16 seconds. Seven seconds after the first penalty expired, the Bears cut their deficit in half on Pascalli’s rebound goal with 9.7 seconds left in the frame. Blake and Riley were credited with their seventh and 10th assists, respectively.
Hamilton received another penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the goal and the Bears took advantage. Potsdam scored its second power-play goal just 1:15 into the third period and tied the score at 2-2. Place took a cross-ice pass from Viola, shot from just inside the blue line and beat Quattrocchi top shelf. Cope also earned his 15th assist.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Continentals got free for a 3-on-1. Brad Prevel '16 skated with the puck along the left boards and passed to Scott Vazquez '16 on the right side of the crease, but Vazquez was stopped by Hall.
Place had a chance to give the Bears the lead with 5:20 left when he collected a rebound in front of the net. Quattrocchi dove to cover the loose puck and left the goal wide open, but Place’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
The Continentals began overtime on the power play, which ended 1:17 into the extra session. After the penalty was over, the Potsdam skater wasn’t able to join the play before Haney scored his fourth goal this season.
The Bears were 2-for-7 on the power play and successfully killed all nine of their penalties. The Continentals held a 40-32 shot advantage, including 3-0 in the overtime.
Hamilton resumes NESCAC play with a home game against Trinity College on Friday, Jan. 25. Potsdam heads to SUNY Plattsburgh on Friday.
