Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Sat., Jan. 15, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hockey

Devils rally for 4-3 win in overtime

FREDONIA, N.Y. – Junior Jim Gilbride (Parma, Ohio) scored in overtime to lift the Fredonia State Blue Devils to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Utica College.

Sophomore Kraig Kuzma (Muskegon, Mich.) had two goals and sophomore Matt Zeman (Rocky River, Ohio) forced overtime with a goal in the waning seconds of the non-conference game.

The Blue Devils, ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division III, improved to 13-1-1 in NCAA competition.

The loss ended a 12-game unbeaten streak by the Pioneers (9-4-3).

Utica appeared to have the game in hand until the momentum shifted at the very end. Zeman scored a power-play goal with :08 left in regulation with a final rush. He skated up the middle of the ice and beat Utica goaltender Adam Dekker (Muskegon, Mich.) low to the glove side.

Gilbride then scored on a slap shot from just inside the blue line at 2:13 of the extra session.

Kuzma opened the scoring 18 seconds into the game, and the 1-0 Blue Devil lead held until midway through the second period.

Utica tied the game at 1-1 on a power-play goal by Joe Watson (St. Louis, Mo.), then took a 2-1 lead at 14:41 of the second period on a goal by Jimmy Sokol (Webberville, Mich.).

The Blue Devils tied the score at 2-2 on a tip by Kuzma of a shot taken from the point during a Fredonia State power play.

The Pioneers put themselves in position to win the game with 9:19 left in regulation as Jon Ames (Baldwinsville) scored a power-play goal while a nifty move and flip over the shoulder of Fredonia State junior goaltender Rick Cazares (San Jose, Calif.).

Cazares finished with 18 saves while Dekker had 24 stops.

The Blue Devils are back at home next Friday, Jan. 21, vs. Buffalo State.

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