Boxscore

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – In a contest that 65 minutes could not decide, the #11 Manhattanville men's hockey team skated to a 3-3 (OT) tie with #8 Williams College in a battle of nationally ranked teams on Sunday night at Lansing Chapman Rink.

Despite the score, freshman Adam Young (Edmonton, Alta.) had a great game for Manhattanville on defense, as the first-year player recorded the first goal and assist of his collegiate career for a two-point night. Junior assistant captain Evan Michalchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) also had a goal and an assist for the team, while senior assistant captain Mickey Lang (Reno, Nev.) netted the Valiants' third goal in the third period.

In a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams mount comebacks, Lang put Manhattanville up by a goal for the second time midway through the third period with his team-leading ninth tally of the season. However, the Valiants could not hold the lead as two penalties led to a power-play goal by Connor Olvany with less than seven minutes remaining.

Although both teams had their chances throughout the remainder of regulation and into overtime, neither team could find the net again and the squads settled for the overtime tie.

The game off to the worst start possible for Manhattanville, as Williams opened the scoring just 18 seconds into the first period. Off a scrum in neutral ice, John Wickman sprung Ben Contini and Eric Rubino for a two-on-one chance, with Contini feeding Rubino a perfect pass at the back post for the score.

But rather than retreat, the Valiants came back and turned up the offense, taking advantage of two Eph penalties to regain the lead. The visitors showed great restraint on their man-up chances, using almost the two minutes on both possessions before finding the net.

Manhattanville got back to even at the 6:32 mark, when Michalchuk netted his fifth tally of the season on the man advantage. After some patient passing in the offensive zone, junior Marcus von Sydow (Stockholm, Sweden) took a shot from the point that was redirected home by Michalchuk in front of the net. Young was credited with the second assist on the score, his first collegiate point.

Adding insult to injury, Williams was whistled for a cross-check on Michalchuk after the goal, meaning that the Valiants went right back on the power play – and the team again took advantage. This time it was Young doing the scoring, as he registered the first goal of his career 1:54 later with a wrist shot from the blue line to put the visitors in front. Michalchuk and freshman Luc Van Natter (Fort Erie, Ont.) got the assists on the score.

The second period saw just one score, as this time the Ephs were able to convert on the man advantage to even the score after 40 minutes. Matt Masucci corralled a rebound in front and beat junior Pierre-Olivier Lemieux (Rimouski, Que.) for the goal.

For the game, Manhattanville and Williams both scored twice on the man advantage, providing ample opportunity for the other team to capitalize.

Lemieux made 23 saves to move to 4-2-1 on the year, while Williams' Ryan Purdy turned aside 20 shots to stay unbeaten at 4-0-1.

Manhattanville (5-2-1, 1-2-0 ECAC West) will be back in action on Friday night, as the Valiants make the trek up to Utica College for an ECAC West Conference matchup with the Pioneers at 7 p.m. WMVL 88.1 FM will have live audio for the game starting at approximately 6:50 p.m. Williams (4-0-1, 2-0-0 NESCAC) will travel to the University of Southern Maine on Friday at 7 p.m.