Utica, NY – The Curry Men's Hockey team took on Frozen Four host Utica on Friday night, falling in overtime by a score of 2-1. The loss snaps a 17 game winning streak, and ends the Colonels' season with a 25-4 record. The Pioneers improve to 24-4-2 on the season, and advance to the NCAA Championship game.
The first period was a tale of two halves, as the Colonels controlled the first 10 minutes, while the Pioneers got some momentum going in the next 10. At the end of the first period the Colonels had a slight edge in shots, 17-15, and shots on goal, 9-7. Utica continued that momentum into the second period, outshooting the Colonels 15-5 through the first 10 minutes, and 12-3 in SOG. They would continue to put on the pressure, and score a goal with a minute remaining in the period to go up 1-0 at the second intermission.
The Colonels had not been shutout in 55 games, and that did not change, as they would capitalize on a power play opportunity with nine minutes remaining. Freshman defender Shane Carr rifled one in to tie things up. The Colonels then killed a penalty of their own to keep things all tied at one. With 90 seconds remaining, the Pioneers fired a shot that goalie Shane Soderwall saved, but the deflection off the glass came back at him and he smoothly caught the funny bounce. The game would then head to overtime.
This marked the second straight year the Colonels would play an overtime game in the NCAA tournament, after they played a 4OT game against Hobart last year in the quarterfinals, a game which was the second longest game in DIII history. While not as long, this game would have the same result, as Utica would score four and a half minutes into overtime, setting them up with a date against Hobart on Sunday in the Championship game. The Colonels are now 1-5 dating back to 1995 in playoff overtime games.
The Colonels were outshot 56 to 37 overall, and 36 to 20 in SOG. The Pioneers also held the faceoff advantage 38 to 23.
Shane Soderwall, who was named the Sid Watson award winner on Thursday, given to the best player in the country, made 34 saves in net for the Colonels.
Soderwall finished the season with a 1.47 GAA, which broke his own program record for GAA from last year of 1.59.
The Colonels will look to build off a historic season, and take that next step next season. But they will need to do so without two key pieces, as mainstays George Vonakis and Eelis Laaksonen will graduate. They have each played more than 100 career games, something only 12 other players have done dating back to 1995. Laaksonen played in 112 career games, the most in program history.
POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE - https://www.ncaa.com/champs-pass/?S=diiimih&B=2306688
