OSHAWA, Ont. – Austin Eastman's (Lindsay, Ont.) stick has been hot over the last week and a pair of early goals by the Ontario Tech forward helped his team to a 5-2 victory over the RMC Paladins on Wednesday night.
After going down 1-0 after one period, Eastman scored twice in the second to give his team the lead. They didn't surrender it again as they held on to win their third straight game and clinch a spot in the OUA postseason.
Although they have a spot clinched, there is six points separating fourth-place McGill University with 30 points and the seventh-place Queen's Gaels, who the Ridgebacks play in Kingston on Friday night.
With 25 points, Ontario Tech could move up to fourth place or drop as low as seventh with the games remaining in conference play.
Their Friday night tilt with the Gaels is slated for 7:30 p.m.
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Austin Eastman scored twice to give the Ridgebacks a 2-1 lead in the second period after RMC's Cole Noble had opened the scoring in the game.
• Rounding out the second period scoring,
Josh Maguire (Cobourg, Ont.) potted the rebound from
Jake Bricknell's (Port Perry, Ont.) point shot to give Ontario Tech a two-goal lead after two.
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Keaton Holinaty (Hardisty, Alta.) and
Tyson McConnell (Pilot Mound, Man.) rounded out the Ridgebacks scoring in the third, with McConnell's being an empty-net goal in the final minute.
• Christian Tsukamoto scored at the 12:15 mark of the third to make it a two-goal game.
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Leif Hertz (Kingston, Ont.) made 25 saves in the win, his sixth of the year.
• Brad Van Schubert turned aside 34 of 38 shots he faced in the loss.
Overall Record: 14-13-3
Conference Record: 11-11-3
Next Game: Friday, Jan. 31 @ Queen's Gaels (7:30 p.m. – Kingston, Ont.)
