ROCHESTER, N.Y. –The Bowling Green State University hockey team improved to 3-1 after handing Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers (2-3) their first loss in RIT’s Brick City Homecoming game in a decade with a 2-1 overtime victory on Saturday.
With 47 seconds left in the overtime period, BGSU sophomore Gustav Stjernberg scored his first career game-winner with a top right hand corner goal. With the win, BGSU remains perfect in the clutch with a 2-0 record in overtime games.
Both teams were unable to find the back of the net in the first frame and were evenly matched on all statistics. Both teams were tied at 15 shots and nine shots on goal in the first period. The Falcons and Tigers both had one opportunity on the powerplay but were unsuccessful.
The Falcons kept an opponent scoreless in the first period for the second time this season after holding Mercyhurst scoreless in the season opener.
In the second period, the Tigers were able to strike first in the game with an even strength goal by Isabelle Simon, but the lead did not last long as the Falcon were able to capitalize on the power play over two minutes later.
Junior Dalton Norris found the back of the net at 16:04 in the second period. O’Hara recorded his third assist on the season, while Zlnka recorded his first career assist and point.
The Falcons were cycling the puck around the zone on the power-play, before O’Hara at the point found Norris on the right-hand side dot for a slap-shot goal that beat the RIT goaltender to tie the game at 1-1.
The Falcons were able to win the shot battle in the second period with 18 shots on goal and 29 in total.
BGSU had a chance to take the lead late in the third on a breakaway from graduate Ethan Scardina but the RIT goalie came up with the stop to force overtime.
With 33 seconds left in regulation, graduate Ville Immonen had a wide-open net after a shot by sophomore Ben Doran, but a RIT defender came sprawling across the crease to keep it tied at 1-1.
In overtime, BGSU had multiple chances early to end the game but were unable to find the back of the net. With 47 seconds remaining in the first, Doran found fellow classmate Gustav Stjernberg streaking down the left-hand side. Stjernberg took a wrist shot at the top of the circle that hit the upper right corner of the net.
