PAXTON, MA – The Manhattanville University men's hockey team delivered a resilient, hard-nosed performance on the road against Anna Maria College on Saturday night, erasing a third-period deficit to force overtime before ultimately falling 2–1 in a shootout.
The opening two periods were defined by pace, physical play, and strong goal tending at both ends. Manhattanville generated quality chances early, including multiple looks from Lucas Baksay (Fairfield, Conn./Connecticut Roughriders (EHL)), Lane Paddison (100 Mile House, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)), Ryan McKenna (Spokane, Wash./Sheridan Hawks (NA3HL)) and Caden Eaton (Indian River, Mich./Cornwall Colts (CCHL)), while Anna Maria countered with sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Junior goaltender William Billequey (Montreal, Quebec/Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) anchored the Valiants from the start, turning aside a steady stream of AMCAT chances with 14 shots in the first period and 12 in the second, keeping the game scoreless through 40 minutes of play.
Despite extended offensive-zone time and several near-misses — including two shots that rang off the pipe by Baksay, one in each period — Manhattanville was unable to break through Matthew Hennessey in the Anna Maria net. The Valiants' penalty kill was sharp as well, neutralizing multiple Anna Maria power plays to keep the contest even heading into the third.
Anna Maria finally broke the deadlock at 9:07 of the third period with an unassisted even-strength goal, putting the Valiants in a late-game hole. Manhattanville responded with urgency, pressing the pace and creating consistent pressure over the final minutes. That effort paid off in dramatic fashion.
With seconds remaining and the extra attacker on the ice, Justin Fernet (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Taft School) delivered the equalizer at 19:58, burying a power-play goal to knot the game at 1–1 and silence the home crowd. The goal marked Fernet's first of the season and capped a relentless final push by the Valiants.
Overtime featured back-and-forth chances, with Manhattanville generating several strong looks from McKenna and Jack Cullen (Trumbull, Conn./Charlotte Rush (USPHL)), but neither side could find the decisive goal in the extra frame.
The game advanced to a shootout, where both goaltenders stood tall through the opening rounds. Anna Maria ultimately converted the lone shootout goal to secure the extra point, handing Manhattanville the shootout loss.
Billequey finished the night with a standout performance in goal, making 38 key saves to give the Valiants every opportunity to come away with the win.
Up Next:
Manhattanville returns to the ice to begin its final stretch of conference play on Friday, January 16th, traveling to Geneseo, N.Y., for a 7 P.M. match up against SUNY Geneseo.
