WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Playing their first overtime game of the season, the Manhattanville College men's hockey team fell in the extra period at Wilkes University on Saturday evening by a final of 4-3. The Valiants will fall to 1-2-0 on the season, but will pick up their third point of the year in UCHC play.

The Colonels notched the winner 2:42 into overtime as Wilkes used the open ice from the 3-on-3 period to set up a series of passes that led to Jimmy O'Kane firing a shot past Tyler Roy (Brighton, MI/Neumann University).

The Valiants looked to be headed for a regulation loss before Nick Prestia (Niagara Falls, Ont./Pickering Panthers (OJHL)) came up big with his second goal of the season. After Wilkes took the lead earlier in the period off a Ryan Galvin score, the senior took a pass from James Gregory (Darien, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)) and fired it home with 1:56 left in regulation to tie the game at 3-3. Prestia's tally allowed the Valiants to secure a point from the Saturday meeting.

The late game theatrics were set up following a four goal first period. Regining UCHC Player of the Week AJ Bella (Norwalk, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)) opened up the scoring with his fourth goal across the first three games of the season, finishing a scoring opportunity assisted by Hayden Taylor (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Islanders Hockey Club (NCDC)) and Corey Popowcer (Parkland, Fla./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) 7:35 into the game. The Colonels evened the score at 9:09 on Nick Godfrey's goal before the Valiants went back ahead at 11:41 on a Dylan Pollak (New Fairfield, Conn./Selects Academy (18U AAA)) goal. The senior's first of the year was assisted by Artem Mateichenko (Kharkov, Ukraine/New Hampshire Avalanche (EHL)) and Raymond Speerbrecker (Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada/Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL)). The Colonels once again had a response waiting soon after, as Ben Stefanini tied the score up once more at 16:52 into the period. The 2-2 score held through a scoreless second period before the pair of goals in the third sent the game to overtime.

Roy took the loss in net with a 32 save effort. The senior goalie made 12 saves in each of the first two periods before making eight stops in the third. Wilkes would win the game in their first shot in the extra period.

The Colonels had a significant advantage on faceoffs, winning 45 draws to Manhattanville's 26. Speerbrecker and Josh Fletcher (Calgary, Alb./Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)) won a team-high six draws for the Valiants.

Manhattanville went 0-for-2 on their power play chances, being held without a shot in a total of 2:16 with the extra man. Conversely, the Valiant penalty kill went a perfect 6-for-6, limiting the Colonels to just six shots on their power plays.

Up Next
The Valiants conclude the series at Wilkes tomorrow with a 3:30 p.m. contest.

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