Hartford, Conn. – Rookie John Hawkrigg (Toronto, Ontario) scored two clutch goals to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a comeback 5-4 overtime win against the Wesleyan University Cardinals in the New England Small College Athletics Conference (NESCAC) Championship Tournament Quarterfinals on Williams Rink at the Koeppel Community Sports Center this afternoon.  Trinity improves to 15-6-4 overall and 12-4-3 in the league, and earns a ticket to the NESCAC Semifinals next weekend with the win.  Wesleyan ends its season with a 10-11-4 overall mark, and league record of 6-9-4.

With just 1:02 remaining on the clock in regulation, Hawkrigg came up with the first of his two crucial goals for the Bantams, who came back from a 4-2 deficit in the third period, to tie the game at 4-4, and push it to overtime.  After a lengthy back-and-forth overtime period, Hawkrigg delivered the finishing touch with 2:02 remaining to send the Bantams to the NESCAC Semifinals, much to the delight of the home crowd.
           
[Click here to watch Hawkrigg's game-tying and game-winning goals]

"These guys continue to impress me with their passion for the team and their will to win," Head Coach Matt Greason said, following his first playoff win as a head coach in his second season at Trinity.  "Today is another example of our determination and resolve.  I am very proud of these guys."

After splitting the season series, including an overtime game in the regular season, Trinity jumped on top of Wesleyan right away, with a goal by senior tri-captain Jeffrey Menard (Burlington, Mass.) just 2:37 into the game.  Wesleyan came back strong in the second, tying the game at 1-1 on a power play goal by senior Donald Kleckner (Alpharetta, Ga.) 2:23 into the frame.  Wesleyan, who outshot Trinity, 20-11, in the second stanza, added two more goals in the period, including one with just 11 seconds showing on the clock, to head into the locker room with a 3-1 advantage. 

Trinity came back with a spark, opening the third period with a quick goal by sophomore Conor Coveney (Hingham, Mass.) to cut the Wesleyan lead to 3-2.  The Cardinals struck back soon after with a goal by junior Keith Burhler (Skaneateles, N.Y.), to give Wesleyan a 4-2 lead. The Cardinals held a two-goal lead until Trinity senior tri-captain Zach Lombardi (Locust Valley, N.Y.) scored with 7:16 showing in regulation, restoring Bantam fans hopes for a comeback.  With time dwindling, Trinity maintained their composure on the ice, as Hawkrigg fired a shot past Wesleyan first-year goalie Nolan Daley (Exeter, N.H.), tying the game at 4-4 with just 1:02 left on the clock.

Daley and Trinity senior goalie Ben Coulthard (South Windsor, Conn.) were tested in overtime, as the teams needed almost the entirety of the twenty minute period to decide the outcome of the game.  Coulthard, who finished the game with 37 saves, came up with a noteworthy save to protect the tie, which set up Hawkrigg for his game-winning goal, just moments later.  Daley finished the game with 40 stops for the Cardinals. 

Trinity heads to Bowdoin College on Sat. Mar. 2 for a 1 p.m. match with the Williams College Ephs in the NESCAC Championship Tournament Semifinals. 

Box score