Schultz's Late Equalizer Earns Wolves a Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Indiana

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Jake Schultz scored the game-tying goal with 1:47 left in regulation before the Indiana Sentinels edged the Wolves 4-3 in a shootout Friday night at the Northern Credit Union Community Arena.  Schultz also assisted on Donovan Powell's power-play opener, finishing the night with a goal and an assist. His late equalizer — from Blake Peavey at 18:13 of the third — rescued a point for the Wolves after Indiana had taken its second lead of the night midway through the period.

Watertown's power play did the early damage. Powell opened the scoring at 5:21 of the first, finishing a Schultz and Brendan Hussey setup with the man advantage. Indiana answered on its own power play at 12:25, Thomas Miller converting from Christian Yi and Ben Stefanini to make it 1-1 after one.

The second period swung twice in 28 seconds. Yi gave Indiana its first lead with a shorthanded goal at 11:30, assisted by Noah Hippolyte-Smith — and before the Sentinels could settle in, Gavin Abbott restored the tie at 11:58 on the power play, from Michael Mania and Hussey, for his second goal of the season. It was 2-2 heading to the third.

Ethan Esposito put Indiana back in front unassisted at 9:43 of the third, and the Sentinels held that lead until Schultz's late strike forced overtime. The extra frame solved nothing, and Esposito settled it in the shootout, beating Samuel Zgiet in the second round after Ross Bartlett was stopped in the first. Cooper Olson turned aside all three Watertown shooters — Powell, Peavey, and Mania — to close out the 1-0 shootout.

Zgiet was strong again in the Watertown net, stopping 28 of 31 shots. Olson made 25 saves on 28 shots for Indiana.

The shootout loss moves the Wolves to 0-6-2 on the season, still in search of their first win — but with a point banked, a power play that struck twice, and Schultz back producing from the blue line.

The Wolves and Sentinels run it back Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:05 PM at the Northern Credit Union Community Arena.  Tickets are available online at Clubhouse Cards.