After enduring a five hour bus trip from Morgantown, W. Va., most observers were probably not expecting the Mountaineers to hit the ice with any kind of intensity or energy on Friday night. However, they surprised most everyone in attendance except the large, rowdy group of fans that made the trip with them. West Virginia dominated the first period using their speed, solid passing, and an aggressive physical style to keep the puck in the Ramsʼ zone for most of the first 20 minutes. Any scoring chances West Chester had were usually on shots taken from bad angles, out along the boards, or from the blue line. They were unable to get many opportunities from inside the perimeter. The Mountaineers headed into the locker room up 2-0 after the first period. One goal came via a deflection on a shot from the point and the other on a two on one breakaway. It was clear after one period that the Rams were going to have to take it up a notch and come out playing with more grit and intensity than they showed in the first. West Chester emerged from the locker room with a new focus and it showed once the puck was dropped to begin the second.
They completely reversed the play from the first period and played most of the second in the Mountaineers zone, out hitting, out skating, and out shooting West Virginia in the second. With four minutes left in the period, Rob Troxell skated in on a breakaway and was nudged into the goalie by a defenseman who was attempting to ride him out of the play. A scrum in the crease ensued as several West Virginia players came to the aid of their momentarily injured net minder. Troxell was given two minutes in the penalty box for roughing and his teammate Joel Miller was sent to join him having picked up a roughing penalty of his own trying to dig his teammate out of the pile. This was a very important two minutes for West Chester. The Mountaineers were looking to add to their two goal lead with their five on three man advantage.
WCU killed off the penalty brilliantly with the help of defenseman Brian Saylor and Keith Schuchardt down low, keeping the crease clear so that their goalie Jason Mardinly was able to see the puck when shots came his way. Dan Andrzejewski played the point for the first minute of the power play and Dave Schrantz patrolled the blue line for the second minute. Unfortunately, West Virginia added another goal upon winning the next faceoff just as the penalty expired with 1:50 left.
They headed off the ice up 3-0 after two periods. West Chester completely outplayed the Mountaineers in the second, but came away with nothing to show for it. WCU picked up their intensity once again to start the third and were rewarded with plenty of scoring chances. The Rams got on the board with 14:26 remaining on a goal by Schrantz, assisted by captain Kevin Underwood. Just 3:30 later, Troxell was persistent around the crease slipping in the second goal for West Chester. Steve Binder picked up the assist.
The momentum had completely swung in favor of the Rams and the optimistic home crowd sat in eager anticipation on the edge of their cold metal seats. With 1:45 remaining and a faceoff in the Mountaineersʼ zone, Jason Mardinly skated out of his net and to the bench in favor of an extra attacker. Fans and players erupted when Underwood knotted the game at three on a goal with 58 seconds remaining. Rob Troxell was credited with the assist.
Most in the crowd were anticipating overtime, but Underwood scored again with 40 seconds left to put West Chester up 4 -3. Schrantz and Todd Zettle got assists on the eventual game winner.
After netting the 4th and deciding goal, Underwood triumphantly pumped his fists and yelled towards his jubilant bench while skating out to center ice celebrating with his teammates and acknowledging the home section of the crowd. West Virginia pulled their goalie for an extra skater hoping for the same kind of luck the Rams had, but it backfired when Underwood put the puck into the open net with two seconds on the clock. Underwood, with the help of his teammates, accomplished a rare feat in hockey, a natural hat trick, which is three consecutive goals scored by the same player.
Persistence and leadership by key players turned a game that looked bleak after two periods into an amazing comefrom- behind victory and a confidence builder for a young team only two weeks away from the playoffs. WCU is now 15 and 12 with three games remaining before the ECHA tournament.