The Marauders received some good fortune when they had heard Scranton had lost to both Muhlenberg and Bucknell. The game seemed cut-and-dry enough–win and they’re in, lose and they’re out.
But nothing is ever that easy.
After getting in a good amount of penalty trouble, the penalty kill was spot on, killing off all of Muhlenberg’s dangerous powerplay opportunities. The defense seemed to key on Muhlenberg’s top scorers Cody McKinney and Andrew Milanesi by cutting off all of their solo opportunities.
On a turnover at center ice in the second period, sophomore defenseman Chris Collins bagged his fifth goal of the season on a blocker side wrister that fooled goaltender Connor McWilliams. The Marauders continued to play stifling defense, and things were looking up.
The optimism rose when forward Mike Carpenter pounced on a loose puck in the goal mouth, bashing in a rebound for a 2-0 lead in the third. That goal was his 15th of the year.
The momentum switched in an instant with five minutes to go, as third-leading scorer on the Mules, Rich Nolan, potted two goals in the span of 30 seconds to tie the game at two. All the Marauders had fought for had been for naught, as overtime was forced.
Towards the end of the third, the Mules took a penalty, but the Marauders were unable to score on the powerplay that had stretched into the overtime session. Millersville was in all-out attack mode, realizing what the season had come down to. Mike Carpenter streaked right up the middle on a 3-on-2 break, but was unable to capitalize, shooing the puck wide.
The real story of this game was senior netminder Bryan DeMarco. His performance in the overtime alone was simply brilliant. He robbed McKinney with a snag with the glove as well as on a 3-on-0 rush, and he stopped Milanesi on a clear cut breakaway.
It’s safe to say DeMarco saved the season several times.
Now Millersville and Scranton are tied in the standings. It all comes down to a tiebreaker for a berth in the GNCHC Playoffs.