Sports
Bobcats Drop Heartbreaker in Shootout
By: Owen Gramoy
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Ohio Club Hockey fell just short against the Indiana Hoosiers 4-3 in a shootout in Bird Arena Friday. Jonathan Gulch was stonewalled by the Hoosier goaltender on Ohio’s last opportunity.
Aggressive out of the gates, Ohio netted 3 goals in the opening period while firing 17 shots on net. Derek Rahme led off the scoring followed by goals from Zander Dover and
Vincent Nicolella. A smothering defensive effort held Indiana to only 3 shots on goal in the entire period.
The Hoosiers accounted for the only goal in the second, cutting their deficit to 3-1. Each team squandered multiple power play opportunities throughout the period, with neither side able to find the back of the net during the man advantage.
The third period started with an early ejection of an Indiana player, but the Bobcats were unable to capitalize on the five-minute major penalty. Instead, a shocked crowd watched as Indiana squeaked in a short-handed goal, and then quickly followed that with a 4-on-4 goal to knot the game at 3 a piece. The final 10 minutes of the period were scoreless, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.
The improbable Indiana comeback seemed destined to be completed in overtime, but goaltender Fedor Dushkin denied an Indiana fast break attempt with only 8 seconds remaining to force the game into a shootout.
The ensuing madness then featured 12 players—six from each side. Brett Agnew was the only bobcat able to put it through the pipes.
Assisting on goals were Gulch, Rahme, Nick Hudeck, Tyler Pilmore and Mike Kretz.
Ohio will take on the Hoosiers again tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in Bird Arena.