Daniel Webster earned a stunning 10-9 overtime victory over Johnson State in a regional matchup at bone-chilling Melander Field on the New England College campus Tuesday night.
Newcomer Storm Adams shocked the Badgers by converting a David Downie pass play with two tenths of a second remaining in regulation to force overtime that came after a long Brandyn Torrey clear from deep in the Eagle defensive zone. Tommy Hanley followed by rifling home an Adams pass with 28.1 ticks to go in sudden death to give DWC the improbable win.
DWC, facing JSC for the first time since 2012, improved to 2-1 overall on the early season, matching the two total victories for the program a year ago and started 2-1 for the first time since that same 2012 season. The Badgers (0-1) dropped their season opener. DWC topped JSC for the ninth time in 12 all-time meetings.
The Eagles prevailed despite trailing six times in the game and were behind 8-6 with a little more than eight minutes remaining. Special teams played a prominent role as JSC converted on 3 of 8 power play opportunities while DWC was 0 for 3. But the Eagles scored twice while a man down, including Adams' tying goal inside the final second.
Anthony Cotoni reached the 50-goal mark for his career with a three-goal, two assist effort to lead DWC. Downie added three goals and one assist and was 11 of 17 in the faceoff circle. Adams would finish up with a pair of goals and assists while Hanley posted two assists to go with his gamer.
Sal Santa Maria, Gavin Chamberlin (Temple, N.H.) and Cotoni picked up seven groundballs apiece. Curtis Larade posted 11 saves in goal.
Mason Phillips paced the Badgers with three scores including a pair of power play goals. Alan Bickings posted two goals and an assist while Nate Plocharczyk netted two others.
Jay Palmisano was kept busy, making 20 saves in goal for JSC.
JSC led 1-0 after one quarter and 3-2 at the half. DWC took its first lead on goals 50 seconds apart early in the third from Downie and Cotoni but Phillips and Andrew Neddo answered for JSC to regain a 5-4 lead.
Adams and Cotoni followed to put DWC back in front at 6-5 12 second apart midway through the third but JSC rattled off the next three from Plocharczyk, Bickings and Phillips to end the third and start the fourth and hold an 8-6 edge with 9:07 left.
Cotoni would net his third with 8:19 to go and Downie followed quickly off the faceoff to tie it 18 seconds later. But the Badgers took their final lead with a Phillips strike on the advantage with 4:51 remaining setting up DWC's wild comeback.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday when they visit Mitchell in a NECC matchup at Noon. Johnson State visits Husson on Saturday in their NAC opener at 3:30 p.m.