OSHAWA, Ont. – Brendan O'Neill (Ilderton, Ont.) made 44 saves and the UOIT men's hockey team scored three goals in a row to beat Guelph 3-1 at the Campus Ice Centre Saturday night.
 
O'Neill, who is 5-1 on the season, rebounded nicely after allowing seven goals against the Lakehead Thunderwolves one week prior. The third-year netminder is posting career highs this season with a 2.39 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
 
Guelph would beat O'Neill for their lone goal five minutes into the game as a MacKenzie Nichol banked one off the end board right to Emmanuel Gialedakis at the side of the net who had a tap in for his second of the year.
 
In the second period, UOIT's offence woke up as Ben Blasko (Kingston, Ont.) finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play from Jason Shaw (Ameliasburg, Ont.) and Ryan Doucette (Waterloo, Ont.).
 
One minute later, Cam Yuill (Wellington, Ont.) beat out a Guelph defender to force a turnover and took the puck up the ice. The Ridgeback captain's first pass was intercepted but the puck ended back on his stick. Yuill was able to use his great vision to find Connor Jarvis (Port Union, Ont.) who streaked in and buried his team leading eighth goal of the season. Jarvis is fourth in OUA goal scoring this season.
 
In the third period, Yuill was able to score a goal of his own which marked the 20th of his OUA career. Jarvis set up Yuill with a beautiful back hand pass while Nate Mitton (Kitchener, Ont.) got the second assist. For Mitton, it was his second helper of the night.
 
The Ridgebacks penalty killing unit wasn't busy but it was effective stopping Guelph on two attempts including one late in the third period. UOIT's penalty killing unit is running at 90.2 per cent this season, second only to Queen's that has allowed just allowed one power play goal against.
 
UOIT was also 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
 
The Ridgebacks sit in the top spot in the OUA eastern conference with a 10-2-0 record, two points ahead of the Gaels who beat Western 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night.

Next weekend will be a good test for the No. 5 ranked Ridgebacks as they head to Quebec for road games against UQTR (7-4-1) and Concordia (8-3-0).

After the road swing, the Ridgebacks will start the first of a four game homestand against the McGill Redmen (8-2-1) on Friday, November 25. The game will be in support of the holiday food drive.  
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 12-4-2
Conference Record: 10-2-0
 
Next game: Friday, Nov. 18 @ UQTR