RYE, N.Y. – Sophomore Nolan Marshall (Drumheller, Alta./Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)) evened the score late in the second period and junior Kurt Williams (Rocky Mountain House, Alta./Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)) had another excellent day between the pipes to lead the Manhattanville men's hockey team to a 1-1 (OT) draw with Nichols College in a non-conference matchup on Saturday night at Playland Ice Casino.
 
One day after making his collegiate debut in a win over SUNY Canton, Williams faced a tougher opponent on Saturday and raised his game accordingly, turning aside 32 of the 33 shots he faced to pick up the tie for Manhattanville (5-4-2). The junior stopped all 12 shots in the first period and all 13 over the final 25 minutes.
 
Nichols also received excellent goaltending at the other end of the ice from junior Alex Larson, who made 38 saves to salvage a tie for Nichols (6-2-2).
 
After a scoreless first period of play, both teams found the net in the second period to even the score at one. Nichols got on the board first at 3:33 of the middle stanza, when Sean Fleming passed into the slot for an onrushing Sean Swansen, who managed to redirect the puck into the net despite being taken down on the play.
 
Larson kept Manhattanville off the scoresheet until 2:53 remained in the period. Senior assistant captain Jake Mooney (Toronto, Ont./North York Rangers (OPJHL)) won a faceoff back to the point for freshman Anthony Ragone (Babylon, N.Y./Springfield Pics (USPHL)), who fired a shot that was turned aside by Lawson. However, he left a rebound at the top of the crease for Marshall, who swooped in to touch the puck under the goalie's pads for his second tally of the year.
 
The Valiants peppered the Nichols net with 20 shots in the middle frame alone thanks in part for four power-play chances that resulted in eight shots. Nichols countered with an 11-5 shot advantage in the third period, but Williams shut the door and the game headed to overtime still knotted at one.
 
Both teams had a power-play opportunity during the overtime, but the theme of the night continued as neither team could convert. The Manhattanville penalty kill kept Nichols off the board on seven man-down situations, but the Valiant power play also went scoreless on six opportunities.
 
Manhattanville will take nearly a month off from competition over the winter break, next returning to the ice to welcome in 2015 on January 4 when the team hosts Curry in a rare Sunday night contest at Playland Ice Casino.