WEST POINT, N.Y. – Just two times in program history, the LIU men's hockey program history has gone to overtime. And both times, the Sharks have come out on top. Saturday, it was a huge win for both head coach Brett Riley and the program, as LIU beat Army in OT, 3-2.
 
The Sharks were led offensively by a pair of fresh faces: freshman Jacob Franczak, who scored his first collegiate goal in the game, and then his second, 90 seconds later, and freshman Jordan DiCicco, who scored the game winner in overtime.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team would score until the third period. LIU outshot Army 12-9 in the first period, and 10-9 in the second. It wasn't until the third stanza that anyone got on the scoreboard.
• LIU would do it first, just over six minutes into the period. With Army serving a major penalty, the Sharks would convert the power play. Freshman Jacob Franczak scored his first collegiate goal off an assist from senior Max Balinson, to put LIU on top, 1-0.
• Just about 90 seconds later at even strength, the Sharks would strike again. Franczak would score his second goal in as many minutes, with assists credited to Jack Quinn and Derek Osik.
• The Black Knights did not give up easily, and would get on the board just two minutes later on a power play goal of their own. And with 59 seconds left in the game, the Army goalie came out, and the Knights would score with an extra attacker to knot it up, 2-2.
• In overtime, it took just two minutes and 46 seconds for LIU to find the back of the net. This time, it was DiCicco with the shot and score, and assists credited to Mitchell Meek and Zack Bross.

 
SHARK BITES

• It marks the first collegiate win for junior goalie Vincent Purpura in net. He had 32 saves for the Sharks.
• Coach Brett Riley evens his record against family members to 1-1 all time as a Division I head coach.
•  Meek had five blocked shots for the Sharks on defense.
• Franczak and Bross combined to lead the team with 12 shots on goal against Army.
• The Sharks have had just two OT games this season, winning both by a score of 3-2.
• With the win, LIU moves to 3-5 on the season
• LIU's next game is still to be determined. With the Canisius series canceled, the next scheduled series of games is February 4 and 5 at Robert Morris.