There were two different overtimes with two different results for the Bobcat hockey team at the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament this weekend.
Despite a second-round win in the extra frame against Iowa State on Saturday, Ohio fell to first-seeded Robert Morris (Ill.) in overtime during the championship game on Sunday 3-2.
The Bobcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the first half of the title game, scoring a late second-period goal and an early tally in the third frame to tie the game and force overtime.
“We didn’t play very well for the first half of the game,” coach Jonathon Sheridan said. “I was very proud of how they responded, though. We came back to force a very good team into overtime.”
The rally started in the final minutes of the second period, when senior defenseman J.C. Gulch notched a power play goal to cut the Robert Morris lead in half. Ohio did not waste time putting the tying goal on the board either, as sophomore forward Logan Pfeffer cashed in a mere 30 seconds into the third frame.
Then, three minutes into overtime, the Eagles scored and took the league championship game.
Ohio began its weekend with a victory against Iowa State in its second round game 2-1. Freshman forward Joe Breslin scored the team’s lone goal in regulation and Derek Rahme recorded the overtime winner for the Bobcats.
Ohio ends its season with a final record of 30-7-3, strong enough to capture the No. 7 seed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. Robert Morris is ranked No. 3 and will face either Oakland or Syracuse in the second round. Both the Bobcats and the Eagles clinched a bye.
Although Sunday’s loss was disappointing for the Bobcats, they will re-gather and refocus in the next two weeks.
Next up for the Bobcats is a two-game exhibition series against the American Cancer Society Ice Ghosts to help raise awareness for the deadly disease.
“It’s always great to join in the help for a cause,” Sheridan said. “As a team we are very blessed and as individuals even more to be able to play a sport we love. Many people are less fortunate than we are and to help out, even if it’s as small as raising money, is the least we could do.”
@kelsey_surmacz4
ks363012@ohiou.edu
Fast Facts:
Final regular season record: 30-7-3
Ohio will face Iowa State in the second round of the ACHA National Tournament on March 8 at 4 p.m. ET
The Bobcats will be raising money for the American Cancer Society in an exhibition series next weekend.
