Box Score APPLETON, Wis. – The men's hockey team (12-1-1, 8-0-1) remained undefeated in Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association play after rallying with four third-period goals to tie Lawrence University (5-8-1, 4-4-1), in a 5-5 overtime tie Friday evening.
Adrian has knocked Lawrence University out of the Harris Cup the past three seasons and owned a 13-0 all-time record against the Vikings entering today's contest, however their last three matchups had been decided by just a single goal.
Not many teams can overcome a four-goal third period deficit, but when you're ranked No. 7 in the country and your third period is your best period- anything can happen.
On the season, only two teams (one currently nationally-ranked) have scored third-period goals against Adrian (UW-Stevens Point and Concordia).
The Bulldogs, however, have now scored 34 third-period goals against their opponents.
Shaquille Merasty took advantage of a turnover deep in the Vikings' defensive zone and scored the game-tying goal unassisted with just two minutes left in the third period. With the goal, Merasty ended a five-game scoring drought dating back to November.
Zach Graham would net his eighth goal of the year just under six minutes into the contest on the power play to give Adrian a 1-0 lead. The rest of the period would belong to the Vikings as they scored four times in a span of about nine minutes to end the period with a 4-1 lead.
Scott Shackell would take over the goaltending duties after that and allow the lone goal of the second period to increase Lawrence's lead to 5-1 after two periods.
It would take about seven minutes into the third period for the rally to begin, and who else to start it than the team captain.
Andrew Dovey scored twice in about a two-minute span, with the latter goal scored on the power play, to bring the Bulldogs within two at 5-3. It would be the third-straight game Dovey would score and increase his total to seven on the year.
Ryan Gieseler would add another power-play tally just more than two minutes later to draw Adrian within a goal at 5-4, before Merasty would net his 12th of the season to send the game into overtime.
Five different Bulldogs had multiple-point performances accounting for all of the team's scoring. Dovey would end up with a pair of goals, while Josh Cousineau would collect a pair of assists on the night. Adding a goal and assist each were Gieseler, Graham and Merasty.
The Bulldogs went 3-for-7 on the power play.
These same two teams will go at it again at 4 p.m. (ET) on Saturday in Appleton, Wisconsin.
