COLUMBUS, Ohio – When good coaching and outstanding play come together, good things happen. Just ask the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team, as Felix Trudeau scored a goal with 4:21 left in the third period and the overtime-winner 23 seconds into OT to seal a 2-1 victory at No. 14/15 Ohio State on Friday evening in Columbus, Ohio.  

Records: 
SHU: 3-1-0
Ohio State: 3-2-0
 
How It Happened:
The Pioneers' defense dominated the first period, holding the dangerous Buckeyes to just four shots. SHU finished with seven shots, three coming off the stick of Jake Bongo. 

The Pios had stellar chances to open the scoring at the start and end of the frame, as they had a power play in the opening 34 seconds and put a pair of shots on frame in the final 10 seconds. However, Ohio State held the visitors at bay as the game transitioned to the second period scoreless. 

The second period was quiet until a tripping call on the Buckeyes at 13:02. On SHU's third power play, Marcus Joughin pushed the puck into the back of the net after a rash of saves from Ohio State's Kristoffer Eberly. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, a lengthy coach's review led to the goal being waived off. 

On the same extra-man opportunity, the Pios again put the puck across the line, but this goal came after a quick whistle from the officials. After two chances that looked to break the deadlock, the game remained tied until late in the frame. 

The Buckeyes ended up scoring the game's first goal at 17:23 in the second on a power play strike from Nathan Lewis. Lewis nailed a one-timer from the top of the slot to give the home team a 1-0 lead heading to the third period. 

SHU had another outstanding chance at 13:41 in the third, as Ray Fust sent a shot off the crossbar on an odd-man rush, coming inches away from tying the score. 

Fortunately for the Pioneers, the team's fourth power play proved very beneficial. After head coach C.J. Marottolo called a timeout to draw up a play on the extra-man, Trudeau needed just 20 seconds to tie the game. Following a few passes around the zone, Trudeau curled back in the right circle, burying a one-timer off a pass from Mikey Adamson to make it 1-1 and force overtime. 

After winning the opening draw in OT, SHU got the puck to Trudeau, who brought it in the zone before beating a defender and sending a dribbler past the talented Eberly. Adamson and Stephane Huard earned assists on the play.

In goal, Ajeet Gundarah was outstanding for the Pioneers, making multiple toe saves to keep the Buckeyes out of the goal. The sophomore made 22 saves to improve to 3-0-0 on the season. 

Notes:

• The Pios tallied their second win over a Big Ten team in program history, the other being a 6-4 win at No. 5/6 Notre Dame on Oct. 19, 2017.  
• SHU's last ranked win came against No. 18/20 Cornell at the Martire Family Arena on Jan. 11, 2025. 
• Trudeau (3-3-6) has tallied a point in all four games this season. 
• Trudeau has tallied two goals three times in his SHU career, doing it last against Robert Morris on Nov. 16, 2024. 
• The win is SHU's first over Ohio State in three tries. 
• Adamson tallied multiple points for the first time this year. 
• Joughin is one assist away from 50 in his career. 
• Gundarah is now 3-0-0 on the season with an outstanding .973 save percentage and a paltry 0.67 goals-against average. 
• The Pioneers gave up their first goal of the season on the penalty kill, as they are now 12-for-13 on the year. 

From Coach McDougall: 
"I am very proud of the guys tonight," said Senior Associate Head Coach Scott McDougall. "They stuck with the game, getting the late power play goal to force overtime. It's a testament to their resilience, fighting through a waived off goal and some other calls that didn't go our way. We need our top line guys to compete to win games like this and that's what they did."

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns to the Value City Arena tomorrow at 5 p.m. for the conclusion of this weekend's series.