NEWARK, De. – The Adrian College ACHA DI hockey team fell in a heartbreaker to #5 University of Delaware 5-4 in double-overtime at the ACHA National Tournament. The Bulldogs finish their season with a record of 30-9.
The Blue Hens got the scoring started early as they netted a power play goal at 15:42, just 13 seconds in the man-up advantage. Just as the Bulldogs killed off another penalty, Tom Ciaverilla stole the puck from a Blue Hens player and drove to the net where he slide the puck through the legs of the Delaware goaltender. Ciaverilla's goal came at 7:02 of the first period. The Bulldogs killed off a five minute major penalty late in the first period as they did not allowing a goal over the course of the Delaware power play.
With the scored tied 1-1, Adrian took the lead at 12:42 of the second period as Logan Blackwell found Ryan Bachman wide open to the left of the net as he buried it home to give the Bulldogs the lead. The Blue Hens countered with their own one-timer at 5:16 as the Delaware player scored to the blocker side of goalie Matt Anderson.
The score was again tied, this time at 2-2, when the Bulldogs were called for a penalty at 14:54 of the third period. Not only was Adrian able to kill off the penalty, but Joe Anstett scored a short-handed goal at 14:22. Alex Norman dumped the puck out from behind the Adrian net and found Anstett who beat out the Blue Hens defender for a one-on-one opportunity with the Delaware goalie who he beat to the glove side. Later, with just 15 seconds left on a power play opportunity, Adrian's Mike Yakamovich scored at 10:11. Yakamovich deflected a shot by Jared Semple into the goal to give the Bulldogs a two goal advantage.
The Blue Hens pulled their goalie with just under two minutes left in the game. At 1:01 left in the game, Brandon Weiner scored on a one-timer for Delaware to pull within one. It was heart-break for the Bulldogs as Weiner scored again with just 39 seconds left in the third period to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Bulldogs had the first opportunity to score on a breakaway but was denied by the Delaware keeper. Adrian and the Blue Hens had several opportunities in the first overtime to score, including two power plays for Delaware, but neither team was able to come away with a win as the game went to a second overtime.
In the second overtime, both sides again had several opportunities early in the session but were unable to find the net. With just under eight minutes left in the second overtime, it was the Blue Hens Kevin Miller scoring on a one-timer as he found a wide open right side of the net to put home the game-winner for Delaware.
Anderson played well in net as he finished with 55 saves.
On the evening, the Blue Hens out-shot the Bulldogs 60-to-38. Adrian was 1-for-6 on the power play while Delaware was 1-for-9.
Adrian will host the fourth annual American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I All-Star Game at Arrington Ice Arena on March 19. The game is tentatively set for 8:05 p.m.
