Curry College Men's Ice Hockey Advances to NCAA Quarterfinals

For the first time in program history, the Curry College men's ice hockey team is heading to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Senior Mark Zhukov (St. Petersburg, Russia) scored 11:02 into the first overtime period to lift the #7 Colonels to a 1-0 win in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Championship on Saturday evening at the Canton Ice House.

With the win, Curry advances to the national quarterfinal next Saturday at Hobart. Puck drop from Geneva, N.Y. is slated for 7 p.m.

Zhukov received a feed from Timmy Kent (Parkland, Fla.) all alone in the slot, and Zhukov made no mistake, burying a wrister over the blocker side for the game-winner. Freshman Jesse Galassi (Lockport, N.Y.) picked up a secondary assist on the goal.

"Just a great play there overall," said Zhukov after the game. "(Kent) found me kind of on my own in the slot, and it was just a matter of patience."

In net, Curry graduate goaltender Reid Cooper (Corman Park, Saskatchewan) pitched a shutout with 37 saves on the evening. "I just took it one shot at a time, and the rest took care of itself," said Cooper. "I couldn't be more proud of the guys for battling all night, and Zhukov for finishing it off."

To follow the NCAA Quarterfinal live, and for all other athletics-related news, please visit curryathletics.com.