Pioneers Win OT Thriller

Aaron Buck (Churchville) scored 24 seconds into overtime to lift Alfred State to a 10-9 victory over Franciscan University on Saturday afternoon. 

Buck got the Pioneers started fast with a pair of goals in the games first five minutes. Franciscan's Mike Rosaschi netted two of his own to tie it before Buck netted his third with 4:52 remaining in the opening quarter. Paul Modzelewski and Mark Hanlon followed with goals for the Barons before Buck and Joe Johnson (Churchville) scored in the final 2:24 of the quarter to give the Pioneers a 5-4 lead the 1st quarter.

Franciscan retook the lead with goals by Modzelewski and Pat Scott in the 2nd quarter but Joe Wittmeyer (Hamburg) sent the game into halftime tied at 6-6 with a goal in the final minute.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the 3rd quarter but Buck's 5th goal of the game with 11:04 remaining gave the Pioneers back the lead. Ryan Colgan (Warwick Valley) followed with a goal just under four minutes later.

Modelewski cut it 8-7 with 6:19 remaining but Johnson answered with 3:54 left to make it a two-goal game. Rosaschi (2:25) and Modzelewski (2:12) scored 13 seconds apart to tie the game at 9-9. Neither team could break the tie in regulation and the Pioneers headed to overtime for the first time in the program's three years in Division III of the NCAA.

The Pioneers won the opening faceoff and took a timeout once they entered the offensive box. Buck took the ball after the faceoff and was able to make a strong move towards the net that led the game winning shot.

Buck finished the day with six goals and an assist while Johnson had two goals. Wittmeyer and Colgan scored once while Nicolas Covelli (Carmel) passed out two assists.

Modzelewski finished with four goals while Rosaschi added three goals and two assists for the Barons (3-7).

Ryan Amidon (Fayetteville Manlius) was stellar in net for Alfred State. He made 20 saves to record the victory. He made seven key saves in the 3rd quarter. Peter Herrmann made 14 saves for the Barons.

Franciscan held a 47 to 33 shot advantage in the game and won 16 of the games 23 faceoffs. Neither team could capitalize on their extra-man opportunities. Franciscan was 0-3 and Alfred State was 0-2.

The blue & gold battle Hilbert on Tuesday. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. and will be played at D'Youville.