For the second consecutive week, Seton Hill's Rocket League team took on an undefeated team when they faced the University of Delaware Wednesday night. And for the second consecutive week, the Griffins handed that team their first loss of the season, using a goal with 12 seconds left in the deciding game to claim a 4-3 win over the Blue Hens.
After knocking off previously unbeaten SUNY Poly 4-3 last week, Seton Hill got off to a quick start against Delaware, who entered the evening with a 5-0 record. After the Griffins took the first two games by scores of 2-1 and 3-1, the Blue Hens rallied back in a big way by scoring 7-0 and 4-2 triumphs to draw even at 2-2.Â
In the fifth game, Delaware led 1-0 until 30 seconds left in regulation when
Anthony Panko scored the tying goal and the game went to overtime. Less than a minute into OT, Panko struck again for the game-winner for the 2-1 win and a 3-2 SHU advantage. Seton Hill took an early lead in the sixth game, but the Blue Hens came back to pull out a 3-2 win and force a seventh game, the fifth time in six matches this year the Griffins were pushed to a winner-take-all game.
The seventh game mirrored the match itself, with Seton Hill taking a 2-0 lead before Delaware rallied back to tie. The Griffins scored twice early, one by
Jack Wagner with 3:50 left and the second by Aidan Hollander at the 3:06 mark. The Blue Hens answered with goals at 3:00 and 2:18 to knot the score at at 2-2. Delaware nearly took the lead with 90 seconds left but Wagner came across to deflect the shot away and keep the score tied.
The final game looked like it might go to OT before a great play by Hollander. After a Delaware shot with under 20 seconds to play hit just above the cross bar. Hollander swooped in to clear the ball to midfield. With the Blue Hens scrambling to get back after their offensive push, Hollander's shot attempt from just across the midline found the goal for the go-ahead score with 12 seconds to play. Seton Hill then won the ensuing face-off and kept the ball pinned inside Delaware's end while time expired to secure the win and improve to 4-2.
Seton Hill will aim for their third win in a row next Wednesday when they take on Concord University Maroon team at 8 pm.