Martin's OT Goal Lifts Canisius over Sacred Heart

January 18, 2004

Courtesy of Canisius Sports Information Department

MILFORD, Conn. - Senior captain Rob Martin scored the game-winning goal with 1:02 remaining in overtime to cap a third-period Canisius College rally as the Golden Griffins erased a 3-1 Sacred Heart lead enroute to a 5-4 victory over the Pioneers Saturday afternoon at the Milford Ice Pavilion. Canisius improves to 5-7-6 overall and 5-4-3 in Atlantic Hockey and continues to carry the nation's third longest unbeaten streak at six games (4-0-2), behind #1 North Dakota (13 games) and defending national champions Minnesota (eight games).

The two teams traded goals in the first period with junior Ryan Corcoran scoring for Canisius at the 10:00 mark off a feed up the left boards by sophomore Dan Bognar and Sacred Heart knotting the score just over eight minutes later with a power-play goal by Garrett Larson off a rebound that was stuffed around the right post past Canisius freshman goalie Max Buetow. The Pioneers would surge ahead with a pair of second-period goals to take a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Rocco Molinaro gave Sacred Heart its first lead of the game at the 14:42 mark and Mike Reagan's power-play goal 40 seconds later made the Pioneers lead a two-goal cushion.

Canisius would rally with three straight goals in the final period of regulation to take a 4-3 lead late in the game. Sophomore Jaymie Harrington scored a power-play goal 1:59 into the period and added a short-handed goal at the 8:31 mark to tie the game at three goals apiece. The short-handed goal was Canisius' first of the season. Fellow sophomore Tim Songin gave the Blue and Gold a 4-3 lead with 2:11 remaining in the period capping the rally with a shot past Sacred Heart goalie Kevin LaPointe. Sacred Heart would send the game into the extra session with the tying goal off the stick of Marc-Andre Fournier with 1:29 left on the clock. Martin's goal in the overtime period gave Canisius its' first overtime win in nine opportunities this season. The Griffs are 1-2-6 in overtime games this season. Buetow posted 28 saves in his first collegiate win, while LaPointe made 35 stops for Sacred Heart.

The Griffs return to action Thursday evening with a non-conference contest against local rival Niagara University at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m.

# GoGriffs.com#