Pioneers Fall in OT Thriller

In another tight battle between Alfred State and Hiram (OH), the Terriers scored on the first possession of overtime to earn the 9-8 victory on Saturday.

The Pioneers started off fast and jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first 11:35 of the game as five different scorers found the back of the net. AJ Soto (Churchville) scored 40 seconds into the game, Tucker Sutphen (Brockport), scored with just over nine minutes left, Nic Covelli (Carmel) scored just under a minute later, Tyler Baker (Rome Free) made it 4-0, and Joe Johnson (Churchville) scored with 3:25 left in the opening quarter, 

Hiram slowed down the Pioneers offense down as they scored three goals in the final 2:46 to make it 5-3 after the 1st. The Terriers scored the lone goal of the 2nd quarter 24 seconds into the frame.

In the 3rd, Hiram continued the pressure and took their first lead, 6-5, with a pair of goals in the first 4:31. Soto answered back to tie it with 9:38 left and Johnson gave the Pioneers back the lead heading into the final quarter when he scored a man-down with 6:04 left.

3:04 into the 4th quarter, Jonah Austin scored his second day to tie it back up and five minutes later, Tim Stucky scored his third to give Hiram the one-goal advantage again. The Pioneers tied the game up late in regulation as Johnson scored his third of the game after getting a pass from Sutphen with 1:16 left. Hiram won the ensuing faceoff and had two shots but could not get the winner.

Alex Meehan won the opening faceoff of overtime for Hiram. After a timeout, Stucky was able to score the game winner 31 seconds to the Terriers to the win.

Johnson finished with a hat trick while Soto scored twice. Sutphen led the team with five ground balls to go along with a goal and an assist. Matt Cobb (Churchville) made 14 saves in the game.

Stucky led Hiram (4-0) with four goals while Austin and Jaret Walland each had two goals and an assist. Liam Osborne made seven saves in net.

Hiram won 18 of the 21 face offs in the contest and out-shot the Pioneers 43-21. Alfred State was 0 for 3 with the man-up in the game.

Last year, Alfred State won a 7-6 contest at Pioneer Stadium between the two teams.

The blue & gold travel to Farmingdale next Saturday afternoon for a 2:30 p.m. start with the Rams.