Reading, PA - Alvernia University's (8-14-2, 6-12-1) Sawyer Senior scored the game-winner with two minutes remaining in overtime to lift the Golden Wolves to a 6-5 win over Lebanon Valley College (2-20-2, 1-17-1) on Friday night in MAC and UCHC men's ice hockey action at Body Zone.
The matchup saw a combined ten power plays go unsuccessful in regulation and into the overtime period. It was the 11th power play of the game, and third power play opportunity for Alvernia, that finally saw a puck hit the back of the net. Alvernia went on the power play 1:18 into overtime, shortly after killing off a power play opportunity for the Dutchmen. After several passes back and forth between Logan vande Meerakker and Senio, Senio fired on net for the game-winner.
The win marks Alvernia's eighth overall of the season and sixth in UCHC play. With the win, Alvernia clinched a playoff berth with one game to go in the regular season.
Alvernia got on the board just 55 seconds into the action with Jason Finan scoring off the assists of Matthew Davies and vande Meerakker. Less than two minutes later, Alvernia doubled up on its lead with Vincent Servizzi finding the back of the net off the assists of Isaac Chapman and Peter Falivena.
The Dutchmen used a quick burst of their own seven minutes later to even the game up at 2-2 as Lebanon Valley scored two goals in two and a half minutes.
Finan's second goal of the night put Alvernia back in front, 3-2, with just under three minutes to play in the first period. Alvernia then killed a penalty that brought in five shots by the Dutchmen in the final two minutes of the period to give the Golden Wolves a 3-2 advantage going into the second period.
Alvernia's one goal lead did not last long into the second period as the Dutchmen evened the game up at 3-3 30 seconds into the second period.
Five minutes later, Alvernia retook the lead, 4-3, on a goal by Chapman off the assist of Falivena and Servizzi. Just 45 seconds later, Alvernia took a two goal lead, 5-3, off a hat-trick goal by Finan on the assists of Hunter Alden and Senio.
The Dutchmen got one back on an even strength goal with four and a half minutes to play in the second frame. Alvernia had a power play to close out the period, but the Golden Wolves were unable to add onto their lead as they held a narrow one goal lead going into the final 20 minutes.
After a fairly even first half of the third period, Alvernia had a 5-3 opportunity as the Dutchmen were charged with two penalties with seven minutes to play. But, Alvernia could not add an insurance goal as the Dutchmen held the Golden Wolves to just four shots during the 5v3.
That would prove costly for the Golden Wolves as the Dutchmen evened the game up at 5-5 with just over four minutes to play.
Alvernia put on a barrage of shots over the next three minutes, but the Golden Wolves could not break the tie. Alvernia was then forced to go back on the defensive in the final minute as the Golden Wolves went back to the penalty box with 59 seconds to play.
Alvernia did not allow a shot in the final minute of regulation as the game went into overtime on a 4v3 power play for the Dutchmen. Alvernia killed the penalty to open the overtime, and, just nine seconds after Lebanon Valley's power play ended, Alvernia's began following a tripping penalty on the Dutchmen.
Alvernia needed just 42 seconds on the power play to score the golden goal as vande Meerakker connected with Senior for the 6-5 win.
Finan led Alveria with three goals and an assist, and Senio finished with one goal and two assists. Alden finished with two assists and 15 faceoff wins. Jordan Gagnon finished with three blocks. Brandon Daigle picked up the win in net for Alvernia with 32 saves.
Alvernia is back in action tomorrow at Lebanon Valley to close out the regular season. Alvernia will either be the seven or eight seed in the UCHC playoff. Alvernia's final seed depends on the outcomes of tomorrow's game against Lebanon Valley and Arcadia's Saturday-Sunday series against Utica.