Sophomore Hunter Greeley netted a hat trick and freshman linemate Lyon Porter scored the game-winner with 56 seconds left in regulation to lift Fairfield over the Findlay 5-4 in nonconference action at the Wonderland of Ice.
Greeley opened the scoring for the Stags on a power play at 5:36 of the first, but Steve Traver’s backhand from the right faceoff dot found the back of the net at 11:09 to even the score for the Oilers.
The first period ended 1-1.
Fairfield retook the lead at 10:35 of the second when Greeley collected a pass from Porter then roofed it over the short-side shoulder of the Oiler netminder. But Findlay responded with a goal by Andy Croak to knot the game at two. Greeley again put the Stags ahead when he collected a rebound from a Brendan Foley shot and jammed it into the back of the twine with just 15 seconds left in the period. Fairfield headed into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead.
The Oilers stormed out of the gate in the third scoring back-to-back goals at 3:38 and 5:57 to take the lead 4-3. Lee Arnold scored the first on a pass by Christian Olson, and Brant Somerville netted the second when his off-angle shot snuck under the crossbar to the short side.
The Stags, down by a goal for the first time on the night, responded with tenacious forechecking which resulted in a hooking call against Findlay. Dan Cotter capitalized for Fairfield on the ensuing power play when he buried a loose puck from a net-front scramble.
Fairfield continued to forecheck and with just under a minute left, freshman Bryan Payant broke down his off wing, cut back to the net and found classmate Eamon Delgiacco, whose shot was saved, but Porter was there to finish the rebound and give Fairfield the win. The goal, just his second of the season, was also Porter’s second last-minute game-winner this season.
Sophomore Craig Schnappinger made 20 saves in goal and collected the win for Fairfield. Junior Jamie VandeSpyker had 34 stops in net for the Oilers and suffered the loss. The Stags outshot the Oilers 39-24 and won the special-teams battle 1-3 to 0-2 with a man advantage.
