Sports

Ohio’s captain, Tyler Pilmore, scored on a breakaway with only 1:45 remaining in the third period to put the Bobcats up by a goal. Pilmore’s initial shot was stopped by Oklahoma goaltender Nick Holmes.

 

But, as Pilmore and an Oklahoma backchecker crashed the net, Holmes was bowled over and the puck managed to cross the goal line as the net was dislodged by the weight of the three student-athletes. After several moments’ hesitation, the referee signaled goal.

 

“We thought the net was off, [Pilmore] ran the goalie, and then the puck went in and they didn’t call it… I don’t think we got a very good explanation of why that goal was allowed,” said Oklahoma head coach Peter Arvanitis, who was visibly upset with the officials after the game. “I think Ohio is a very good team, I think we played well, and I just think we deserved a different fate.”

 

Ohio goalie Fedor Dushkin played a big role in determining the Sooners’ fate, as well. Dushkin’s first save of the game was a powerful wrist shot that stuck him directly in the mask, but he appeared unaffected by the blast. He went on to make 28 saves throughout the game, including a dazzling glove save on a wide-open Stan Smrke late in the third period to keep the score tied at two goals apiece.

 

Two shots managed to beat Dushkin in the first period. Oklahoma defenseman Joe Adams fired a shot that was blocked by a Bobcat, but then fluttered up into the air and lobbed over Dushkin’s shoulder before he could detect it through traffic.

 

Chad Hudson got the Sooners’ second goal by releasing a wicked snapshot after being set-up in the slot by Oklahoma’s leading scorer, Darrell Boldon. Hudson’s tally put the Sooners up 2-1 with 2:28 remaining in the first.

 

The Bobcats continued their trend of scoring early in games as Brett Agnew scored at 2:07 of the first period on a two-on-one that developed as the result of an Oklahoma turnover in the neutral zone.

 

At 3:02 of the third period, Michael Harris earned Ohio’s second goal of the game by stuffing a rebound past Holmes in the midst of a net-front scramble.

 

The Sooners were unable to score before the sound of the final buzzer, but by the conclusion of the third period, Oklahoma outshot Ohio 30-21, becoming the first team to outshoot the Bobcats during the course of a game all season.

 

Oklahoma will get its chance at revenge as the Sooners will face off against the Bobcats for a second time this weekend at 7:30 on Saturday night at Bird Arena.