Union battled back from a two-goal deficit to tie 20th-ranked Cornell, 3-3, in overtime Friday evening at Messa Rink. Junior Josh Coyle netted the game-tying goal midway through the third period and led the Dutchmen with two goals on the night. Sophomore T.J. Fox added a goal and an assist in his team-leading ninth multiple-point game of the season.
Coyle knotted the game at 9:33 of the third period with a wrap-around shot. Torren Delforte connected with Fox, who passed around behind the net to Coyle. Coyle skated out with the puck and turned on his forehand as he whipped the puck past Cornell goaltender Ben Scrivens.
Fox sparked the Dutchmen’s comeback just 24 seconds into the final frame with a short-handed tally, the first of his career. Fox intercepted a pass between the points in the Union zone and carried it all the way to Scrivens before placing the puck through the five-hole for his 13th goal of the season.
The Dutchmen outshot the Big Red, 4-1, in overtime, and had a great chance at the start of the extra frame when Olivier Bouchard went in on a breakaway, but Scrivens made a deft leg save to rob the senior of his fourth game-winner of the season.
Cornell jumped on the board first at 7:18 of the opening frame when Blake Gallagher poked in his own rebound just in front of the crease.
Three minutes later, Coyle lit the lamp after gloving down a clear attempt just outside the zone. Coyle laid down the puck and carried it in past a defender, dragging it along the front of the crease. He then slid the puck on his backhand past Scrivens’ right leg.
Mitch Carefoot gave the Big Red a one-goal advantage headed into the first intermission with a one-handed five-hole shot while down a man. Cornell outshot the Dutchmen, 9-7, in the first period.
Doug Krantz extended Cornell’s lead to two goals less than two minutes into the second stanza on a well-executed play. Topher Scott carried the puck down the right on an odd-man rush, but held up at the faceoff dot. Scott centered the puck to Krantz, whose shot beat Union netminder Justin Mrazek low on the stick side.
Mrazek made 22 saves and stands at 12-12-3 on the season, while Scrivens stopped 31 Dutchmen shots for a 3-5-2 record.
