HIRAM, Ohio - February 25, 2023 - The Terriers did all they could to swing a seesaw affair in their favor, with Ambrose Colliluori netting a game-tying goal with 23 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter before Franciscan ultimately prevailed in a 10-9 overtime loss on Saturday afternoon at Henry Field.
Colliluori, who was named Honorable Mention All-NCAC this past season, scored 1 of his 4 goals in that final minute to give Hiram a chance at its first win of the year. The Barons responded shortly thereafter in overtime, with Samuel Marshall scoring the decisive goal just over a minute into the extra period.
For Colliluori, the 4 goals tied his 2nd-most in a career game (6 vs Oberlin last season). Trevor Flugum added 2 goals, while Ethan Mayer, Noah Pilgram and Micky Morgan rounded out the Terriers offense with 1 goal apiece.
Defense played a critical role in limiting the momentum throughout the game, with neither team scoring more than 2 consecutive goals. Colliluori responded well from his scoreless season opener against Allegheny by chipping in 2 goals in the 1st period. Sandwiched in between those scores was the 4th goal of the season for Pilgram.
More of the same back-and-forth action ensued in the 2nd and 3rd periods; the teams traded goals 7 straight times during that span, including a pair of scores from Flugum. Morgan's goal was his 2nd in as many games, kicking off his collegiate career on a high note.
Every time the Barons got something going in the 4th period – Hiram responded. Goals by Mayer and Colliluori both came after Franciscan scores to tie the game at 8-8 and 9-9 respectively. The Henry Field crowd erupted when Colliluori leveled the score with just seconds remaining on the game clock.
Franciscan was able to sneak away with the win, though, which happened to be Hiram's first overtime game since the 2019 campaign.
The Terriers will look to win their first game of the season when they travel to Bethany, West Virginia and take on Bethany College this Wednesday at 5 p.m. Hiram is 3-4 all-time against the Bison.
