Ohio was able to end a Stony Brook rally late in the third period of its 6-3 victory to secure the team’s fifth straight win. The Seawolves attempted to come from behind all game but struggled to overcome the deficit thanks to their penalty troubles. Ohio would dominantly finish the game, slamming the door shut on a close game against the No. 24 team.
Following a 5-0 loss the night prior, Stony Brook came into Saturday’s matchup with some much-needed intensity. The high-energy play seemed to stump the Bobcats early, but penalties flipped the script. The Seawolves would be stuck on the defending end of things, finding themselves down a man three times in the first period.
While Ohio was unable to score on power play opportunities, they did wear down the Stony Brook defense. This became clear when Drake Albers, Nolan Abraham and Kevin Kasper crowded the crease and took a 1-0 lead.
Before the Seawolves could adjust, the Bobcats were back on the attack. This time, it was Collin Felton finding Mathieu Ovaert for a fast break goal to make it 2-0. Stony Brook continued to struggle with penalties but was able to keep its deficit at two.
The Seawolves seemed to make good use of their first intermission, entering the second period with haste. It didn’t take long for them to score, as Alex Scimeca netted a goal less than 30 seconds into the period.
The penalties would continue to haunt Stony Brook, though, as penalties on both squads led to a 4v4. Ohio was able to take over, with both teams playing shorthandedly. Nolan Abraham stunned the crowd and expanded the Bobcat lead with a wrap-around goal from behind the net.
From there, the energy on both squads seemed to lull as the second period dragged on. The Seawolves were the first to wake up, making it a 3-2 game with another goal by Scimeca.
The lengthy period seemed to only add to the chippiness of both teams. This physicality built up and boiled over when Ohio nearly netted a goal that led to Laker Aldridge taking on a sleuth of Seawolves. He and two Stony Brook skaters would find themselves in the penalty box, leading to even more 4v4 hockey.
During the intermission, Ohio coach Barry Schutte addressed his team.
“We were in this position a couple weeks ago against Pitt and we handed it to them,” Schutte said. “It's time for us to show how mature we are and how much we're growing as a group.”
The message must have resonated well with the team, as Aldridge almost instantly made it a 4-2 game.
With a two-goal lead, Schutte urged his team to simplify the game, stressing the importance of “details and purpose.” Ohio held control of the game for a good chunk of the third with its dominant possession of the puck.
Scimeca wouldn’t sit back and watch his team fall behind, though, as he was able to complete his hat trick with another goal nearly halfway through the final period.
While the Seawolves were once again able to make things close, they would once again shoot themselves in the foot. Stony Brook’s Paul Desaro got into a scuffle away from the puck, in which he was thrown from the game for kicking. This set up Ohio with a five-minute power play that would all but end the game.
Shorthanded, Stony Brook was completely overwhelmed in the final five minutes. Ovaert netted his second goal of the night, right before Albers put the finishing touch on the score just ten seconds later. The Bobcats would end the game on top, 6-3.
