Box Score LONDON, Ont. – Matt Clarke scored the game-winner with 18 seconds left in overtime and Josh Unice stopped 28 of 29 shots to lead the Mustangs to a 2-1 victory over the Queen's Gaels on Saturday night at Thompson Arena.
 
"I think the guys were really disappointed last weekend not coming away with any points after going on a pretty long road trip," said Mustangs assistant coach Brendan Riggin after the game. "So there was a little bit of motivation to play well this weekend and I think they responded real well getting the four points."
 
The Mustangs were both the first and the last team to draw blood on Saturday as the two teams engaged in back-and-forth hockey for much of the night. Both goaltenders played well but Unice was exceptionally strong on the night, making a number of nice saves to keep the Mustangs in the game.
 
"He can change the momentum of a game with just one save," Riggin said of Unice after the game. "We really needed that game out of him tonight and the guys obviously responded well having him back between the pipes."
 
While Unice only faced with five shots in the first, he provided what was most likely the highlight of the night in the frame, pulling the Mustangs' faithful onto their feet and into the game. With the Gaels descending on a 2-on-1, Unice leapt across the net to make a spectacular stick save and keep the game scoreless, denying Queen's what seemed like a sure goal.
 
Daniel Erlich got the Mustangs on the board in the first with his fifth goal of the season, firing a shot from the point on the power play that glanced off a Queen's defender and fooled net-minder Kevin Bailie. Heading into Saturday night's matchup, the sophomore forward led the league in assists and was also tied for first in points with 20 and, with his goal on Saturday, he now leads the OUA outright in points.
 
After the game, Riggin had nothing but praise for Erlich's play so far this season.
 
"Obviously he's been great and he's really helping out the team putting the points up on the board," Riggin said. "He does a really good job on our power play and he's someone that we can obviously rely on so hopefully we can keep his production up for the rest of the season."
 
Unice would have to be sharp for the Mustangs in the second as the Gaels seemed to find their groove, sending a total of 15 shots towards Western's net. He added a second highlight reel save 1:46 into the frame on a penalty kill, flashing the leather on a shot from the faceoff dot.
 
Yet Queen's second period offensive outburst would finally pay off late in the second as Kelly Jackson registered the Gaels' first goal of the night on a shorthanded breakaway with 1:51 left in the frame. Jackson stole the puck from a Western defender at the line before keeping on the 2-on-1 and burying his own rebound.
 
Unice would steal the show again to start the third though, somehow finding a Queen's point shot through a screen in time to make a fantastic glove save. Not to be outdone by himself, he would make another highlight reel, game-saving glove save on a point-blank shot with less than three minutes left in the frame.
 
On the other end, Bailie was also forced to make a number of saves, including a nice stop on a Zach Harnden shot from the faceoff dot with five minutes left. Bailie ended the night with 27 saves overall, 12 of which came in his big first period.
 
With the teams unable to settle the score in regulation, the game headed to overtime where the teams proceeded to take turns generating offense. The first good chance of the extra frame came about half way through when Clarke flipped the puck over the Queen's defender giving himself a breakaway only to be stopped by Bailie.
 
But the best chance came with 18 seconds left when Clarke found himself next to Bailie again and managed to just barely slip the puck behind him. The goal sent the Mustangs faithful, who had been cheering loud all night, flying out of their seats and the Western players pouring from the bench. 
 
The Mustangs will have an opportunity to stretch their current win streak to three games when they take on RMC on Friday, Nov. 22, at Constantine Arena in Kingston. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.