Box Score LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs returned to the Thompson Arena for the first time in two weeks on Friday night and it was certainly an exciting return as Western scored three unanswered goals in the third period to come from behind and pick up a 5-3 win.

“We gave up 18 shots in the first period to a team we shouldn’t be doing that to,” said Western interim head coach Patrick Powers following the win. “We knew these guys love to skate and we let them skate, especially in our zone in the first period, but I think we definitely wore them out halfway through the second period and into the third.”

Heading up the Western offence on Friday was Zach Harnden who netted a pair of goals, including his OUA leading 18th, while also adding two assists. Linemates Steve Reese and Matt Clarke were also firing on all cylinders with Reese recording a goal and two assists while Clarke added an assist of his own. Both Reese and Clarke now stand tied for second in CIS scoring with 34 points each.
 
“Those guys lead by example, they work hard up the ice and they work hard back [at our end] of the ice,” said Powers on the play of the team’s top line. “The secret of their success is just getting the puck deep and using their size, speed, and strength to wear down opponent’s defences. That’s what they do and that’s why we were able to fatigue UOIT in the end of the game.”
 
Although the Mustangs finished strong, the Ridgebacks took control of the game early, opening the scoring barely more than a minute into the contest as Tony Rizzi put the puck past Josh Unice to put UOIT in front.
 
Shortly thereafter the Ridgebacks were unable to capitalize on a boarding call to David Corrente and the Mustangs took advantage once the penalty ended. With Corrente stepping out of the box, the fowrard received a long pass from Harnden to go in alone and score on Jacob Rattie on the breakaway to make it a 1-1 game.

The two teams continued to trade scoring chances before the Ridgebacks took control just past the midway point of the period, with Brandon Parks giving UOIT a 2-1 lead they would carry into the first intermission.
 
Western slowly began to take control in the second period before special teams became a factor midway through the frame, and back-to-back penalties ended up costing the Ridgebacks. UOIT killed off one penalty before surrendering a power play goal to Reese who managed to tie the game at two following a scramble in front of Rattie.
 
Just as they did in the first two periods the Ridgebacks opened the scoring in the third with Matt Pasztor picking up his fourth goal of the season somehow sneaking the puck past Unice with a crowd around the Mustangs net and giving UOIT a one-goal lead.

A few minutes later UOIT found themselves in penalty trouble once again and Western made the Ridgebacks pay as Harnden picked up a rebound in front of the UOIT net and put the puck past a downed Reese to tie things up at 3-3 with 15 minutes remaining.
 
The Mustangs didn’t wait long for their next chance as Geoff Killing sent a nice cross-ice pass to Adam Stoykewych who fired the puck into the UOIT to give the Mustangs the lead for the first time.

UOIT continued to battle hard to tie the game, however it was Western who had the best scoring opportunity as at the three minute mark the Mustangs sprung Reese on a breakaway and the winger beat Rattie but not the post as the puck hit iron before the UOIT netminder snatched it out of the air.
 
With just over 90 seconds remaining the Ridgebacks pulled Rattie for an extra skater, and despite pressing the attack Unice was able to shut the door and preserve the Western lead. Harnden would seal the win for the Mustangs at 19:55 with an empty net goal to make it a 5-3 win for Western.
 
Although the two teams combined for eight goals both goaltenders put in strong performances with Unice turning aside 32 shots and Rattie stopping an amazing 52 pucks for UOIT.

The Mustangs are back in action tomorrow night, taking on the York Lions at Thompson Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and fans can watch all the action live on Mustangs TV at this link: http://www.ssncanada.ca/game/4497/