LONDON, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team earned one of their biggest regular season wins in program history on Friday night as they defeated the No. 8 Western Mustangs 3-2 in London.
 
The Ridgebacks extend their point-streak to seven games as they improve to 8-3-1 to sit in third place in the OUA eastern conference standings. After starting the season 2-3, the Ridgebacks have earned victories in six of their last seven games. Western falls to 9-4-0 but remain in first place in the OUA western conference standings.
 
With the game tied at two goals apiece and less than two minutes on the clock, freshman Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.) buried a rebound top shelf between two Western defenders and goaltender Peter Delmas to put the Ridgebacks in front 3-2.
 
Western would look to capitalize off a Ridgeback turnover with time winding down, but defender Jason Shaw (Belleville, Ont.) would dive to break up the play and give UOIT the one-goal victory.
 
Mark Petaccio (Sicklerville, N.J.) would record an assist on the game-winning goal, as well as scoring in the first and second periods. The two-goal night gives him six in his freshman campaign while ending a personal eight game goalless drought. Defenders Jake Logan (Napanee, Ont.) and Alex Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) earned two assists in the win.
 
After only facing 12 shots in the first two periods, UOIT goaltender Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) was busy over the final 20 minutes but was up to the task stopping all 14 shots he faced. O'Neill has a 2.92 goals against average with a .910 save percentage in 12 games this year.
 
Luke Karaim and Alex Micallef were the goal scorers for Western with fourth-year winger Matt Marantz recording two assists in the losing effort. Marantz is fourth in OUA scoring this season with 19 points.
 
UOIT would end up outshooting Western 53-26 including 27-3 in the second period, both of which are program highs for shots in a game/period.
 
The Ridgebacks will not have much time to celebrate the victory as they face the Guelph Gryphons at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 10-7-1
Conference Record: 8-3-1
 
Next Game: Saturday, Nov. 21 at Guelph Gryphons (3 p.m.)