November 1, 2002
FINDLAY, OHIO – The University of Findlay men’s hockey team lost its second straight regular season game on Friday night, losing to ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ 2-1 in front of 450 fans at the Clauss Ice Arena. The loss dropped the Oilers to 2-2-0 overall while the Raiders improved to 3-2-1 on the season.
Both teams scored all of their goals in the first period in what looked like a shootout in Findlay, Ohio. However, defense and goaltending would play a huge part in the final two periods, especially the last couple of minutes in the game.
The Oilers would strike first at the 3:44 mark of the opening period when freshman Andrew Radzak notched his second goal of the season. Jason Maxwell took the initial shot but Radzak was there for the rebound. It was Maxwell’s fourth assist of the season.
¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ would score its two goals in a one-minute span to take a 2-1 lead. Eric Main got the Raiders on the board at 12:12 with an assist to Steve Silversides.
Exactly one minute later, Rob Brown went end-to-end for an unassisted goal to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.
That, however, would be the final scoring of the game as Findlay goaltender Jamie VandeSpyker and ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ goaltender Steve Silverthorn went head-to-head in the final 40 minutes.
The Oilers had excellent opportunities to tie the game in the final two minutes. Sean Kotary had a rebound go off his skate but it hit the post before crossing the goal line. Steve Traver also had an excellent opportunity, but Silverthorn made a tremendous glove save to rob the senior defenseman of the game-tying goal.
In all, VandeSpyker stopped 29 of 31 ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ shots in suffering his second loss of the season. Silverthorn stopped 25 of 26 Findlay shots for his third win of the year.
Findlay went 0-for-3 on the power play while ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ did not convert in four opportunities.