Above: The Bulldog hockey team celebrates after Tony Cameranesi's overtime goal. Brad Eischens/Statesman. BY JIMMY GILLIGAN | The Statesman
THE GAME
The Bulldogs came out with a stronger start against Denver University than in Friday’s game. But for much of the game, it was the same result: a lot of shots and scoring chances, but no goals. Denver got on the board in the first period when Adam Plant tipped a Quentin Shore shot up and over Kasimir Kaskisuo’s shoulder. That put a familiar pressure on UMD—they haven’t scored first in any of their November games so far.
“The true test was how we were going to respond in the second period and I think our guys stayed with it. It’s not easy when you’re getting chances and not scoring,” head coach Scott Sandelin said.
Despite UMD outshooting Denver in the second period (as they did in all three periods tonight), the Bulldogs still couldn’t get one past DU’s Tanner Jaillet.
The Pioneers’ lead held up until the third period, when UMD’s leading scorer Tony Cameranesi redirected a pass from Adam Johnson into the net on UMD’s 37th shot of the game. Momentum was on UMD’s side after tying the game, as they had a number of scoring chances late.
Even before the game-tying goal, the Bulldogs had a number of chances to score in the third period, including three breakaways.
Officially, the game was a tie. But per National Collegiate Hockey Conference rules, the teams went into 5-on-5 overtime, and later 3-on-3 to decide who would get the extra NCHC point. With just six skaters on the ice, the Bulldogs continued to get the majority of the scoring chances. Then with 2:15 left in the 3-on-3 overtime, Cameranesi put home a rebound from an Austin Farley shot and sent the Pioneers packing.
Tony Cameranesi's goal in 3-on-3 overtime. Brad Eischens/Statesman
THE TAKEAWAY
After missing last week with an upper body injury, Tony Cameranesi, UMD’s leading scorer, got both of UMD’s goals tonight, his third and fourth of the season. Yet even with his goal, the Bulldogs still need to find more ways to score if they’re going to be successful in the NCHC.
It was the fourth consecutive game in which UMD outshot their opponent, but only the first one in which they didn’t lose. The Bulldogs look to find the net more heading into Colorado College next weekend, after tonight they managed to score one goal off of 43 shots.
“We just have to bear down,” Cameranesi said. “Obviously when you’re getting that many shots you’re doing something right, but I think we just need to get more bodies to the net.”
It was UMD’s first taste of the NCHC’s new 3-on-3 overtime and they seemed to like it. Unsurprisingly, they outshot DU 7-0 in that overtime period.
“It’s a big possession game, coach stressed not to force anything if we didn’t have any plays, (but) we liked it,” Austin Farley said.
THE NUMBERS
106:17 It took the Bulldogs over 100 minutes of play to get their first goal of the series this weekend. Tony Cameranesi got UMD on the board with a tap-in goal six minutes into the third period of Saturday’s game.
74- Despite scoring 2 fewer goals this weekend, UMD outshot Denver 74 to 29.
2--The overtime win gave the Bulldogs an extra point in the NCHC standings. While Cameranesi’s goal doesn’t officially count in the eyes of the NCAA, it did earn UMD two points and held Denver to a weekend total of four.