By Amanda Trusky

This past weekend, Aston Ice Works hosted the ECHA playoffs. Beginning Friday, Villanova shutout Temple University. Patrick Keough and David Troiano each scored a goal for Villanova during the first period. Troy Donahue buried the last goal of the game about halfway through the second. The final score of the game was a 3-0 win for Villanova.

Villanova moved on to play Navy on Saturday night in the ECHA semifinals. Navy opened the scoring with a power play goal in the first period. Each team scored one goal in the second period, Villanova’s goal was scored by assistant captain Troy Donahue.

During the third period, Villanova’s Eddie Klein tied the game on a beautiful tip in. Navy then proceeded to press Villanova’s powerplay until they buried a shorthanded goal. Villanova captain Jack Skaggs picked off a pass and ripped a slapshot bar down to tie the game 3-3 with 10 minutes left. With 5 minutes left in the third, Richie Halevy tipped a saucer pass from Chris Parisi to take the 4-3 lead, which was the final score.

With the win against Navy, Villanova earned a spot in the championship game against Drexel on Sunday afternoon. Villanova’s Eric Brotman scored the first goal of the game. Just 30 seconds before the end of the period, Drexel scored on the power play and the period ended with a 1-1 tie.

Drexel scored again about halfway through the second period on a shorthanded breakaway. A minute later, Villanova’s Aiden Rush scored the last goal of the period assisted by Tim Matthews on the power play. There were no more goals scored in the third period which sent the game to extra time.

After 5 minutes of overtime, Drexel capitalized on a defensive zone turnover by the Icecats and scored the game winning goal, clinching the league championship title.

The Icecats battled hard all weekend through 185 minutes of playoff play, earning them the runner up trophy in the ECHA.