GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin ACHA Division 3 men's hockey team stood tall as the dust cleared after its skirmish with Michigan State University, winning 2-1 on an exhilarating overtime goal. The 16
th nationally-ranked Knights improved their season record to 15-8-0.
The first period was a model goalie exhibition.
Liam Austin protected the Calvin net and recorded 10 saves in the period. Michigan State did not score in the first. Bryn Summerfeldt of MSU also had a tremendous first period, recording 13 saves in the first period. Calvin was unable get any past him and the score at the end of the first was still 0-0.
The second period was more of the same as defense reigned supreme in this matchup. Austin stopped 5 Michigan State. Summerfeldt had another double-digit save count in the second, recording 12 more. The game remained scoreless throughout the period, setting the stage for an intense, highly-competitive third period.
Michigan State struck first in the third period as Logan McGivern got the best of the Calvin defense and scored with 14:23 remaining. The Calvin offense did it's best to comeback and win the game in regulation, getting off 19 shots on goal. However, only one would find the back of the net, a strike off the stick of Zach Seaman with 11:49 remaining. With the game now tied at 1, both teams tightened up their defense once again, and the game headed to overtime.
There was an expectation of a long, defensive battle in overtime, but
Myles Radersma had other plans. Off of a great setup by Harry Ottsen, Radersma was able to beat the MSU defense and score the game-winner, only 33 seconds into overtime.
Liam Austin recorded a total of 25 saves for Calvin, including a critical save early in the overtime period. The Knights outshot MSU 45-25 in the game.
NEXT UP: Calvin will play Saginaw Valley on Friday, February 10 at 7:30pm at Eagles Ice Center in Grand Rapids, MI. They will play a rematch on Saginaw Valley's home ice on Saturday in University Center, MI. The weekend series with Saginaw Valley will be their final regular season series before the MCHC playoffs, starting February 17.
