BOXSCORE HENNIKER, N.Y. -- Fredonia State overcame a pair of one-goal deficits to tie nationally ranked New England College, 3-3, in men's hockey Tuesday night.
Blue Devil defenseman
Ryan Wilkinson (Calgary, Alberta) scored the game-tying goal 55 seconds into the third period.
Christopher Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) kept the host Pilgrims off the board the rest of the way and finished with 42 saves.
Brian Doust (Calgary, Alberta) and
Blake Forslund (Owen Sound, Ont.) had the other goals for Fredonia State (2-8-3).
Three different players scored for the Pilgrims (10-4-1). They came into the game No. 18 in D3hockey.com and No. 19 in USCHO.com Division III polls.
Doust opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 6:57 of the first period, assisted by
Stephen Castriota (Bellport, N.Y.). The 1-0 lead lasted until late in the first period, when the Pilgirms pulled even at 1-1 at 19:41 on a goal by Kyle Manlow.
NEC carried the momentum into the first intermission and built on it to take a 2-1 lead at 2:14 of the second period, as Kevin Marceau scored.
Forslund's goal, his second of the season, pulled the Blue Devils even at 2-2 at 16:19 of the second period.
Alex Perkins (St. Albert, Alberta) picked up the lone assist.
Just as it had late in the first period, NEC grabbed late momentum -- and took a 3-2 lead -- as Scott Cornfield tallied to put the Pilgrims up at 19:47 of the second period.
Wilkinson's game-tying goal, assisted by
Travis Fernley (Calgary), was his first goal of the season and his second as a collegian in his 36th game over two seasons.
The Blue Devils managed to keep NEC off the board in the final minute of the third period, despite a Pilgrim power play which carried over into overtime.
NEC goaltender Brett Kilar finished with 33 saves.
NEC is the fifth USCHO-ranked team the Blue Devils have faced this season, with SUNYAC rematches against No. 3 Plattsburgh, No. 10 Oswego, and No. 14 Geneseo in the weeks ahead.
The Blue Devils have also faced No. 1 Adrian this season.
They are back in action Wednesday afternoon vs. Franklin Pierce at Rindge, N.H. Game time is 3 p.m.
