Senior Hunter Greeley scored the tying goal with 39 seconds left in regulation – and the goalie pulled – to lift Northfield Mount-Hermon into a 2-2 road tie with #1 Taft this afternoon. The game was a chippy and passionate contest, and full of emotion and tension.

Things didn't look good for NMH early on as Taft senior Tim Pettit blasted a seventy footer past goaltender Ben Crapser just 40 seconds into the game. Thereafter, Taft, employing a smothering 1-2-2 forecheck and tremendous team quickness and speed, was able to force numerous turnovers which led to quality scoring opportunities. However, Crapser kept the Hoggers close.

Northfield, coming off a loss to Division II Bridgeton on Friday, was clearly outmatched in the first period, which was played at a furious pace. The Hoggers were only able to generate five shots, most of which came from the perimeter. However, despite the lopsided edge in play, Jim Ward's club managed to tie the game off a face-off as the diminutive Kevin Richardson stepped around his centerman counterpart and slipped a quick shot past Taft netminder Mark Spadaccini with just 10 seconds left in the period.

The second period was choppy and lacked the flow of first, as NMH played with more vigor and seemed to adjust somewhat to Taft’s speed. However, the Rhinos, who again held a significant shot advantage, were able to regain the lead halfway through the stanza as junior Ryan Trowbridge converted off a goalmouth scramble to put the home team up, 2-1.

Late in the period, Taft appeared to double their lead as Erick Dalton ripped a high shot that looked as though it beat Crapser to the waffle side. However, it was ruled – and later confirmed by a respected college coach who was stationed behind the net – that the puck hit the post.

The third period was played much like the second with numerous stoppages and continued chippy play. At the 9:40 mark the tenacious line of Jensen, Shannon and Pettit created a turnover off the forecheck from which Pettit again beat Crapser but was nixed by the right goalpost. The ensuing scramble led to a Taft power play, but they were unable to convert.

Pettit, who created offense all afternoon, again had a chance to ice the game at the 8:20 mark as he received a pretty cross-ice goalmouth pass from Jensen. However, Crapser read the play perfectly and was able to get across and make a spectacular save to keep the lead at one.

That set the stage for Greeley’s heroics.

Following an icing call, Richardson won the face-off back towards defenseman Ryan Foster, who made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone and then rifled a low shot toward the net. A mad scramble ensued but Greeley – in a maze of players - was able to corral the puck and slide it past Spadaccini to tie the game with just 39 seconds remaining.

Although Northfield’s Dave Andros had the overtime’s best scoring chance as he rifled a wrist shot just wide off a set face-off play, Taft largely controlled the five minute period, again outshooting the visitors, this time by a 4-1 margin.  However they were unable to solve Crapser and were forced to settle for a 2-2 tie.

:20 Taft Pettit (Sochacki) 5x5

14:50 NMH Richardson (unassisted) 5x5

7:47 Taft Trowbridge (unassisted) 5x5

14:29 NMH Greeley (Foster, Richardson) 6x5