MALDEN - Senior captain Evan Haney scored with 33 seconds left in the overtime period to lift visiting Hamilton College to a 3-2 NESCAC men's hockey victory at Tufts on Friday night at Valley Forum.
Haney came in on a partial break-away and was able to score on a rebond to give Hamilton its first win in five games. The Continentals, who were led by Michael DiMare's two assists, improved to 4-7-1 overall and 3-5-1 NESCAC.
Tufts, which had freshman goalie Ryan Kellenberger make 34 saves, dropped to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in the league.
The Jumbos tallied the only goal of the first period with just 29 seconds on the clock as Brendan Fadden scored. He had not scored in 35 career games entering this season and now has three in 11 games of his senior season.
Both goalies were good in the first as Kellenberger stopped 11 shots and Hamilton's Charlie Fennell made 10 saves.
It didn't take long for the Continentals to even the score in the second period as Kenny Matheson netted his sixth of the year just 13 seconds into the stanza. The visitors then surged into the lead on a power-play goal by Pat Curtis at 7:15 of the second. DiMare had assists on both goals and now has 15 helpers on the year.
Like in the first period, Tufts scored late as senior Kyle Gallegos tallied unassisted with 26 seconds remaining to even the game and set up an exciting third period. The goal was Gallegos' team-high seventh of the season. Kellenberger finished the second with 12 stops in the Tufts net.
Defensive play would spell the third though, as the teams combined for just 15 shots (eight by Hamilton) in a scoreless frame. The game seemed destined for a tie entering the final minute of overtime before Haney won it for Hamilton.
Fennell made 28 saves in the Continental goal to earn his second win.
The Jumbos will host Amherst College tomorrow at 4 pm. Hamilton moves on to Connecticut College for a 3 pm NESCAC tilt.
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