Norse come from behind to beat EKU in a Shoot Out!

The Northern Kentucky University handed Eastern Kentucky University their second loss of the semester in front of a big crowd at Northern Kentucky Ice Center Friday night.

The Colonels opened the scoring with a goal just under 4 minutes in, but the Norse were able to respond, scoring near the half way point of the 1st period.  Senior Andrew Gustafson tied the game with a hard wrist shot over the EKU goaltender.  However EKU was able to pull ahead late in 1st with another goal.

The Norse were able to tie the game with just over 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd period on a goal by Senior Jeremy Emig.  But again the Colonels were able to answer, scoring 2 goals in the final minute of the period.

Lucky for the Norse, Gustafson wasn't finished scoring.  He scored two 3rd period goals, giving him a hat trick, within a minute and four seconds of each other to draw the Norse even with EKU.

In the overtime period, neither team was able to record a game winning tally and the contest went to a best of three shoot out.  Eastern Kentucky's first shooter wasn't able to get a shot off.  The first shooter for the Norse, Gustafson, was denied by the EKU goaltender.  EKU's second shooter was able to score over Sophomore Martin Paul's blocker, giving them a 1-0 advantage.  Emig, the second shooter for the Norse, skated in and used a change of speed, faked a forehand shot and buried a backhander to pull even with the Colonels, 1-1.  Eastern's third shooter was turned away by Paul and that set up the chance for win for team captain and senior, Nick Williams.  Williams slipped the puck between the legs of the Colonels goalie and was mobbed by the rest of the Norse at center ice.

Last night's game was the final home game for seniors Nick Williams, Andrew Gustafson, Adam Engels, Jeremy Emig, Sam Queen and Tim Horn.  All of these young men will be graduating this spring and will be missed by the Norse Hockey Club and fans alike.

Friday's Three Stars
3rd Star - Nick Williams (1 shoot out goal)
2nd Star - Jeremy Emig (1 goal, 1 assist & 1 shoot out goal)
1st Star - Andrew Gustafson (3 goals)