Georgetown Hockey

Georgetown 5, Virginia Tech 4 (Overtime).

On Saturday afternoon, February 9, 2008, the Georgetown Hoyas laced-up
against the Hokies of Virginia Tech at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
Earlier in the season, the Hokies handily defeated the Hoyas 5-2 in
Roanoke, VA. This time, however, the outcome was quite different, and
featured one of the most amazing late-game comebacks in Hoya Hockey
history.

The beginning of the game did not bode well for Georgetown. Virginia Tech
jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on two even-strength goals. Shortly before
the first intermission, the Hoyas cut the Hokie lead to 2-1 on a rebound
goal by Hugh Manahan (Jr-Skillman, NJ), assisted by a strong wrist shot
from the slot by Charlie Walsh (Soph-Cheshire, CT) and a centering pass
from the right corner by Dan Lechner (Soph-N. Potomac, MD).

The only scoring in the second period was a power play goal by Virginia
Tech, which gave them a 3-1 lead heading into the third and final period.

Five minutes into the third period, Peter Black (Jr-Bethesda, MD)
intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and passed the puck to a streaking
Conor Hickton (Sr-Pittsburgh, PA) just inside the blue line. Conor
outskated the pursuing defenders, fired a wrist shot that was blocked by
the Tech goalie, rebounded his own shot, and buried it in the back of the
goal to cut the Hokie lead to 3-2. Just as the Hoyas were sensing new
life, however, Virginia Tech forward Rick Onorato (Fr-Clarence, NY) scored
on a breakaway with 8 minutes remaining to give the Hokies a 4-2 lead.

With 3 minutes remaining in the game and facing a two-goal deficit, the
Hoyas pulled their goaltender. From this point on, things got very
interesting. First, the Hokies seized control of the puck and barely
missed two empty-netters that would have ensured them of victory. Next,
with 1:42 remaining in the game and six Hoya skaters crashing the net,
Conor Hickton scored from close range to cut the Hokie lead to 4-3,
assisted by Dave Glynn and Dan Lechner. Hoya goaltender Greg Graham went
back in goal for the ensuing face-off and was not able to depart for an
extra attacker until there was only about a minute left in the game. Once
armed with a sixth skater, but with less than 40 seconds remaining, Brendan
Surma (Jr-Pittsburgh, PA) blasted a shot from the blue line that resulted
in a mad scrum in front of the goal. Conor Hickton's shot was blocked, and
Steve Russell (Sr-Andover, MA) in heavy traffic somehow forced the puck
across the goal line to tie the game 4-4 with 34 seconds left. This
provided a huge lift for the Hoyas and resulted in overtime.

The clock was set for 5 minutes of overtime, 4 on 4. The Hoyas were fired
up and the Hokies were stunned. In overtime, Georgetown outskated and
outshot the Hokies, 6 to 1. Not willing to accept a tie, the Hoyas blasted
shots from the point and crashed the net. Finally, with 34 second
remaining in overtime, Peter Black gained control of the puck in the slot
and fired a laser-like wrist shot past the Virginia Tech goaltender and
into the upper corner of the net for the game winning goal. The Hoya bench
erupted and rushed onto the ice to celebrate a fantastic comeback and
finish.