Hockey's third period comeback falls just short against Northern Illinois

(Rochester Hills, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's hockey team squared off against Northern Illinois for the second night in a row on Saturday. After a 3-3 tie throughout the first 40 minutes, both offenses exploded with seven goals being scored in the game. In the end, a late RCU comeback attempt fell short, as the Warriors would fall, 7-6.

FIRST PERIOD - RCU 2, NIU 2

After an early RCU penalty, the Huskies were able to grab a lead, just 45 seconds into the game, on the power play. The Warriors, though, were able to respond and even the game up at a goal apiece after Ryan Long scored a minute and a half later. 

13 minutes went by with both teams taking their fair share of shots, with neither team able to take the lead back. Kyle Hauer broke the tie with his second goal of the season off an assist from Shaun Zatelli and Jake Mullins. The RCU lead lasted less than three minutes before NIU tied the game. 

SECOND PERIOD - RCU 3, NIU 3

NIU would go on to record the first score of the middle 20 minutes, following an RCU power play opportunity just eight minutes into the period. RCU's third goal of the game came off the stick of Andrew Scott when he cleaned up a rebound from a Shaun Zatelli shot. Maxximus Savel would also record an assist on that play. 

THIRD PERIOD - NIU 7, RCU 6

The two teams split the first pair of goals in the third period, with only 14 seconds in between the two goals. RCU scored the first off the stick of Shaun Zatelli as he put one in the back of the net, with assists from Coel Zalewski and Brody Vachon. NIU would go on to score three more goals in succession, including the third being on an RCU empty net. 

Playing 4-on-4 following coincidental penalties, Cole Zalewski brought the Warriors to within two goals with just over a minute remaining. The Huskies would commit their fifth penalty of the match with 50 seconds left in regulation, which would see the Warriors complete the power play with a goal off the stick of Brody Vachon (Shaun Zatelli assist), to bring RCU to within a goal. RCU would win the next two faceoffs, including one in the attacking zone with a second remaining, but would not be able to net the tying goal. 

TOP PERFORMERS

Six different Warriors tallied a goal, while Jake Mullins and Shaun Zatelli led the charge in the points department with four and three, respectively. Cole Zalewski recorded a team high of seven shots.

Trey Hoffmann (0-1-0) played his first game in net for the Warriors, collecting 39 saves against the 45 shots faced, in 58:52 minutes played. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will have two weeks off before taking on Western Michigan on September 27, at the Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with puck drop at 7:30 pm.