The Hamilton College men's hockey team came all the way back from a 3-0 first-period deficit to tie visiting Wesleyan University 3-3 in overtime in a NESCAC matinee Saturday at Russell Sage Rink. The Continentals (12-2-4 overall, 6-2-4 NESCAC) posted their biggest comeback in seven years.

Brandon Willett '18 scored twice in the first four minutes of the third period to complete Hamilton's rally. The Continentals hadn't erased a three-goal deficit since climbing out of a 3-0 hole in a 4-3 overtime win over Babson Feb. 10, 2010.

Willett scored on the first shift of the third period, then added his team-leading 11th goal of the season at the 3:53 mark. He took over the team scoring lead, raising his season total to 18 points. After winning the faceoff to open the third, he played the puck to Neil Conway '18 and converted the return pass into a goal to pull the hosts to within 3-2 just 17 seconds in. Conor Lamberti '17 and Nick Ursitti '20 assisted on the tying goal.

Ursitti, skating with the Continentals' top line, assisted on all three Hamilton goals for his first collegiate multi-point game. He set up Brad Smelstor '17 for a slap shot that put Hamilton on the board 3:57 into the second.

The Cardinals (10-4-4, 5-3-4) exploded for three first-period goals for their early lead. Mike Yablong opened the scoring with his first goal this winter 5:46 into play. With less than 10 seconds left on a Wesleyan power play, Vincent Lima sent a pass from one faceoff circle to Dylan Holze at the other and Yablong took Holze's pass at the point and waited for an opening before sending a wrist shot into the Hamilton net.

The visitors scored twice in the last four minutes of the first, with Chad Malinowski and Holze credited with goals. Malinowski's goal, with 3:18 to go, was set up when James Kline recovered a puck along the boards deep in the Hamilton zone and played it up to Spencer Fox at the blue line. Malinowski received Fox's pass between the circles and tallied his third goal of the year. Holze capped the outburst with 49 seconds remaining. Cam McCusker and Walker Harris assisted on the play.

Hamilton dominated the third period, outshooting Wesleyan 19-5. The Continentals scored their two goals on their first four shots of the third, but Cardinal goaltender George Blinick stopped the hosts' last 18 shots (over the final period and overtime) to preserve the tie.

Blinick finished with 36 saves. Evan Buitenhuis '18 made 24 stops for Hamilton.

Hamilton wore 'throwback' jerseys from the early '90s as part of a tribute to the memory of Peter Mastracco '92, an Eastern College Athletic Conference all-star for the Continentals who passed away last summer. Mastracco's wife, Lynn, dropped the ceremonial first puck before the game.

The Continentals travel to Maine for a pair of NESCAC games in their next weekend series. Hamilton plays a 7 p.m. game at Colby Friday and a 3 p.m. contest at Bowdoin Saturday.