FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's ice hockey team fell to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) foe Aquinas in overtime, 2-1, on Friday evening at the SportONE/Parkview Ice House.
 
The Saints controlled the action through most of the first period, outshooting the Warriors 13-5 in the opening 20 minutes of the game, but neither side was able to find the back of the net heading into the first intermission.
 
Nick Papandrea would give Tech a 1-0 lead with a power play goal, his fifth of the season, at 16:05 in the second period. The Orange and Black would maintain their lead until 18:49 in the third as Aquinas notched a power play goal tie the game up at 1-1.
 
The Saints would get a golden opportunity to end the game in regulation after a five-minute major penalty was called on the Warriors with 83 seconds to play in the third, but the visitors would be called for a slashing penalty 28 seconds later and the two sides headed into overtime for the second time in three games.
 
Aquinas had another great chance to end the game early into the extra session with a shot that hit the pipe, but the Tech defence would hold firm though the rush, but the Saints would eventually break through at 3:54 in the overtime with a goal from Steven Gustafson to hand the Warriors their first loss in either WHAC or NAIA Division play.
 
Zach Larson made 38 saves in net while Zach Bennett and Jarrett Pfeiffer notched the assists on the Papandrea goal.
 
Tech (17-5-1, 4-1-0 WHAC) concludes it season series with Aquinas on Saturday in Bryon Center, Michigan. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. from Southside Ice Arena.