SHELTON, Conn. – In the highest-scoring game in head-to-head history. Post University Men's Ice Hockey and Assumption University combined for 11 goals down in Shelton, Connecticut, on Tuesday afternoon in what can only be described as a game of runs. Each side would go on a pair of two-plus goals scored runs, while combining for 19 power plays and seven power play goals before the Greyhounds came out on top in overtime, 6-5.

THE BASICS

Post University 5, Assumption University 6 (OT)

Post University (3-11-1, 2-6-1 NE10)

Assumption University (10-7-2, 5-2-2 NE10) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first of the seven power play goals for the two teams came off the stick of sophomore defenseman Eoin Reager, only two minutes into the contest, netting his third goal of the season as part of his second multi-point game of the year, once he added an assist on the fourth goal of the day for the Eagles. A little under five minutes later, junior forward Parker Norling continued to add to Post's momentum with his second score in as many games, doubling the lead to two goals against junior goalie Callum Welch.

Within 1:01 of each other, starting with a power-play goal of their own, Assumption would tie the game back up at two all with scores from both freshman forward Jake Russell and senior forward Hunter DeMarco. All four goals in the first period would come in the first 9:27 of action, as would the only two penalties of the frame, before both teams were subdued offensively.

Freshman goalie John Simon started the second period in relief of senior goalie Benjamin Cunneen, with Cunneen's day finishing with him having 15 saves on 17 shots by the Greyhounds. Simon was peppered with shots by Assumption in the second, making 22 saves in the first action of his career at home for Post.

Along the way, freshman forward Brett Cunningham and senior forward Jake DiNapoli completed a stretch in which Assumption scored four unanswered goals, doubling up the Eagles, 4-2, with a pair of power-play goals. That advantage ended up being short-lived as sophomore forward Scotty Swain netted back-to-back power play goals against Welch within a span of 3:10 of each other, tying the game back up at four heading into the third.

In the only period that did not feature a power-play goal from either side, junior forward Connor McCowell looked to shut the door on Post's come-from-behind victory, pushing in senior forward Baxter Kimball's wraparound attempt with just under 13 minutes left in regulation. Regaining the lead, 5-4, the Eagles completed a stretch of their own in which they scored three unanswered goals in response to the four-goal blitz by Assumption.

However, with the extra attacker on the ice in the final minute, junior forward Leo Piandes would beat Simon with a high shot from the left side with only 7.6 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at five all and sending it to overtime. As fate would have it, the 19th penalty for either team would end up being what helped seal the game as a slashing penalty to McCowell in overtime gave the Greyhounds a 4-on-3 power play in which junior forward Jonathan Surrette buried the game-winner past Simon.

The 6-5 overtime win was the third overtime victory in the all-time series for Assumption against Post, but also marked the fourth scoring run of the game for either team, closing with two unanswered goals. In net, Simon stopped 43 shots after coming in for the second period, while Welch got the win for the Greyhounds with 29 saves on 34 attempts by the Eagles.

73 total faceoffs were taken by either team as Post finished holding a 37-36 advantage in that category, while Assumption overwhelmed them on the man-up advantages. Going 4-for-10 on the power play, the Greyhounds took 23 shots on net against the Eagles compared to just nine shots for Post, while they went 3-for-9 on the power play. Both teams had 5-on-3 opportunities against the other during the game, with neither being able to cash in. 

BY THE NUMBERS  

• After being held scoreless in his last 10 games, Parker Norling has now scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career with Post University
• In relief of Benjamin Cunneen, John Simon made 43 saves over the 43:32 of action he saw between the second period through overtime
• A combined 19 penalties were assessed for both sides, leading to a 4-for-10 afternoon for Assumption University on the power play, while Post University finished 3-for-9 on the man-up advantage
• In the all-time series, this was the fifth time in which Post University and Assumption University went to overtime, as the Greyhounds now hold a 3-1-1 advantage over the Eagles

WHO'S NEXT 
Post University will play seven of its next eight games on the road, starting with a two-game swing against Saint Anselm College this weekend at 7:00 PM on Friday and 4:00 PM on Saturday. The Eagles have lost their last three matchups against the Hawks after beating them in the first of four games last season, 4-3, at home.