A remarkable comeback led by forwards Rod Pelley and forward R.J. Umberger gave the Ohio State men’s hockey team a 3-2 victory inwhat seemed to be ugly defeat Friday night.

“Obviously it came down to the wire, but we are just happy to get the win,” said OSU coach John Markell. “I always tell the team at this point in the season two points is key, and staying at the top is of the utmostimportance.”

OSU scored first when center Dave Steckel shot the puck past Western Michigan goaltender Scott Foster. Umberger and defenseman Doug Andress assisted on the play.

Penalties soon took center stage as 17 were called in the game.

“I think it’s frustrating especially when we thought they were exact stuff we we’re, so they could have been in the box as easily as we were,” Umberger said.

The Broncos landed two pucks behind OSU goaltender Mike Betz, and this gave Western Michigan the 2-1 lead until late in the game.

In the closing minutes of the game, it appeared to be an OSU defeat, butthe Buckeyes pulled Betz from his goal and added the extra attacker to the ice.

With only 45 seconds remaining on the clock, Pelley tied the game at two with assists from JB Bittner and Ryan Kesler.

“We have been practicing that play a lot in practice,” Pelley said. “I passed it to (Bittner) and defense committed to him. I didn’t really havemuch time to call for it and he just got it to my stick. I brought thepuck around and in.”

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the game, knotted at two, wasgoing to overtime.

In the extra frame, Umberger took it upon himself to end the game as quick as he could. Driving in the Bronco zone, Umberger shot the puck with a man on him, and it went in.

“I took it (the puck) across the blue line, and had an opportunity to geta shot off,” Umberger said. “I was surprised because I have been shooting high and I thought I it was going to go over the net, but I got it down low, and it went in.”

The goal came at 31 seconds in overtime. In less than two minutes, OSUscored two goals to defeat Western Michigan.

“We didn’t execute down the stretch when they pulled their goalie,” saidJim Culhane, the Bronco’s head coach.