Waterville, Maine- The Men's Ice Hockey team faced Middlebury College in a NESCAC matchup this past Tuesday night. The Mules are coming off a tough loss against Amherst College and looking to distance themselves as the #1 seed as NESCAC playoffs approach. The Mules would take home a gritty come from behind win against Middlebury to get back in the win column with a score of 3-2.
 
The Panthers got off to a hot start against the Mules, scoring just 1:48 into the period to take a 1-0 lead over the Mules. Middlebury would outplay the Mules in the first period, despite the Mules having two power play opportunities against the Panthers. Middlebury would also outshoot the Mules 13-5 in the first period, Andy Beran saving twelve of those shots.
 
The first two and a half minutes of the second period were quite eventful, to say the least. Middlebury would go up 2-0 1:16 into the second period. Nineteen seconds later, Brian Sanzone would score to bring the Mules within one after Henry Molson would send the puck from behind the net. Only forty-five seconds after Sanzone's goal, senior Austen Halpin (pictured left) would tie the game after rifling a shot from just below the blue line. With the game tied at two goals apiece, the Mules finally got their momentum. Sophomore Andy Beran would make several crucial saves to keep the game tied for the Mules as they went into the final twenty minutes of the game.
 
Tied at 2-2 in the early stages of the third period, and coming off of a strong second period, the momentum was in the favor of the Mules. John McElaney would score his fifth goal of the season at 7:22 of the third period after moving the puck by a sliding defender and ripping a shot past the goaltender's left shoulder. Earlier goal scorers Brian Sanzone and Austen Halpin would get the assists on the winning goal. The Mules would take home a 3-2 win with Andy Beran making 28 saves and seniors Brian Sanzone and Austen Halpin tallying a game high of two points each.
 
The Mules will make the trip down to Middletown, Connecticut to play Wesleyan University on Friday night at 7:00 PM.