The Middlebury men's hockey team battled St. Olaf in a back-and-forth contest during Saturday's consolation game of the 25th Annual LayerEight Shootout before skating to a 2-2 tie. The host and top-ranked Cardinals and #11 Norwich play for the title at 7:00 p.m.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Oles looked to get on the scoreboard just 1:31 into the first period, but a shot by Tyler Cooper on the doorstep was saved by Middlebury goalie Jake Horoho.
• Four minutes later, Horoho came up with a big save after a turnover at the blueline. The Panther moved to his left, denying a one-on-one bid by Cooper with his left pad.
• Middlebury increased the pressure in the latter stages of the period, including a blast from the left point by Kevin Golden with 13:34 elapsed, but netminder Thomas Lalonde rose up and saved the attempt with his mask.
• The Panthers cashed in on their persistence in the offensive zone, finding the back of the net with 35 seconds left in the stanza. Paddy Bogart gathered the puck along the end boards, sending a pass to Andrew Seaman who wristed a shot into the top-left corner for the 1-0 lead. 
• The Oles leveled the contest at 1-1 just 56 seconds into the second period when Michael Webster laced a one-timer from the point that found its way through traffic.
• St. Olaf continued to pepper Horoho with a plethora of shots immediately after tying the contest, but the Panther goalie recorded seven saves over the ensuing 3:33 of action to keep the contest deadlocked.
• Nearing the end of an Ole power play, Wyatt Pastor produced the Panthers' best scoring chance of the frame when he skated into the zone shorthanded. Pastor rifled a wrister from the left circle that was saved by the right pad of Lalonde.
• Middlebury skated five-on-three following a pair of St. Olaf penalties early in the third period. The Panthers took advantage, as Mangan ripped a shot from the left point that found the back of the net 1:57 into the frame.
• Mangan looked for his second goal 1:41 later on a blast from between the circles, but Lalonde saved the chance with his blocker.
• Middlebury had a scoring bid with 7:09 left when Jin Lee tried to shovel in a shot from a tough angle, but Lalonde stood his ground and saved the attempt.
• Less than a minute later, St. Olaf tied the contest (2-2) following a Panther turnover in the defensive zone. Ben Luscko skated onto the loose puck just inside the blueline, one-timing a shot just inside the left post with 6:38 left in regulation.
• Bogart had a pair of opportunities with four minutes remaining just outside the crease, but Lalonde saved both attempts to send the game into overtime.
• Skating three-on-three in the extra stanza, Revy Mack ripped a shot 1:16 into play on the rush that Lalonde stopped with his glove.
• Chris Garbe had a wide-open goal opportunity with 46 seconds remaining, but St. Olaf's Gunnar Johnson dove across the goalmouth to block the chance.
• The Oles drew a penalty with 6.5 seconds left and called a timeout but were unable to get a shot on goal as the game finished in a 2-2 tie.

NOTES 

• The goal was Seaman's first tally in the Panther uniform, while Mangan's score was his first of the season.
• Horoho ended the contest with a season-best 35 saves, highlighted by 19 stops in the second period. 
• Saturday's contest marked the first meeting in men's hockey between the two schools.

The Panthers return to action on Friday when they open the home portion of their schedule against NESCAC foe Connecticut College at 7:00 p.m. in Chip '85 Kenyon Arena.