Byron Center, Mich. – The Saints hockey team took on the Purdue Northwest Pride tonight (Oct. 28) for the first of the two-game home series. The Saints had a tough weekend last week against the No. 8-ranked Indiana Tech Warriors and were looking to bounce back tonight. Aquinas would do just that after winning its second shootout thriller of the season. Both sides would end overtime with the score tied 2-2 and Dylan Rumpke would score the only goal in the shootout to give the Saints a 1-0 shootout victory. Michael Allman would save all three one-on-one attempts.

Aquinas now improves to 5-4-0 on the season and remains at 3-3-0 in conference play.

Purdue Northwest took an early lead in the first period after scoring just six minutes and two seconds into the period. The Pride would get another chance just a few minutes later after AQ got into some penalty trouble. However, the Saints would make short work of the powerplay and would return to full-strength just two minutes later. Clock hockey and sound defense from both teams would wrap up the first period with the score still at 1-0.

There were just 19 total shots on net between the two team as PNW outshot AQ 11-8.

The tides would turn in favor of Aquinas in the second period. With 15:32 left on the clock, Alex Johnson would tuck the puck past the Pride's net minder to tie the game at one-to-one. The goal would be Johnson's fifth of the season and Rumpke and Brendan McCatty would be credited with the helpers.

A penalty on Purdue Northwest just a couple of minutes later would give the Saints their first powerplay of the game. However, PNW would quickly kill off the penalty and the game would return to five-on-five hockey. The game would continue on with both sides creating scoring chances, but not finding the back of the net. That would change late in the second period after AQ received another powerplay opportunity with 3:48 left on the clock. With just one second left on the powerplay, Rumpke would break the tie after beating the goalie. A. Johnson and Shane DiTullio provided the assists on the goal.

The Pride outshot Aquinas 18-14 in the second period, but it would be the Saints that held a 2-1 lead entering the second intermission.

Purdue Northwest continued the offensive pressure in the third period and nearly equalized with 17:48 on the clock. However, a disallowed goal would allow Aquinas to hold onto the lead. PNW would get multiple powerplay chances throughout the third period, but Allman remained strong in net and continued to stonewall PNW late into the third period. With just over a minute to play, the Pride pulled its goalie to give themselves six skaters on the ice.

With just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, PNW would finally equalize after tucking the puck under Allman's blocker. The goal would take the teams into overtime for five minutes of three-on-three hockey. The Pride outshot the Saints 16-8 in the third period.

Both teams would put four shots on target in overtime, but neither side managed to break the tie. With the score still locked at 2-2, each team chose three skaters for the upcoming shootout.
Purdue Northwest would shoot first and Allman would deny him with his right pad. Rumpke took the first shot for Aquinas and slotted the puck right through the five hole to take a 1-0 lead in the shootout.

PNW was once again denied by Allman with another big pad save to maintain the 1-0 lead. Christian Look took the second shot for Aquinas and was unable to score the would-be game-winning goal.

With the third skater on the ice for the Pride, Allman would, once again, come up big in net to give AQ a 1-0 victory in the shootout.

In total, Allman saved 44 of 46 shots on target for a .957 save percentage. Allman now sits at 2-2 on the season. The Pride outshot the Saints 46-37.

Aquinas is back in action again later today (Oct. 29) for another matchup against Purdue Northwest. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 PM at Southside Ice Arena.