Villanova Erases Three-Goal Deficit, Takes Shootout Win Over Pitt

Villanova defenseman James Reagan (3) scores the winning shootout goal against Pittsburgh goaltender Elijah Wiltshire (30) on Friday, January 23, 2026 at Alpha ice Complex. -- (Ed Major/PHC)

HARMAR TWP., Pa. — In a game so hot it could have melted the coming winter storm, James Reagan played the hero, burying a shootout goal for Villanova to lift the Wildcats (13-4-1, 9-1-1 ECHA) over the Pittsburgh Panthers (11-9-3, 6-3-1 ACC) 5-4 Friday night at Alpha Ice Complex.

The third period was a heavyweight bout.  After Villanova’s Evan Noble tied the game early in the third period, local Pittsburgh product Derek Pietrzyk seemingly saved the day for the Panthers, burying a go-ahead goal with just 4:05 remaining.  The Pitt crowd’s roar was short-lived, however; with just 2:09 left on the clock, Christian Lepore found the equalizer once more for Villanova to force overtime.

The overtime period was just as frantic.  The ordinarily 3-on-3 overtime period started with a 40-second Villanova power play.  Despite several chances, Panther netminder Elijah Wiltshire stood tall; easy to do in his 6’-5” frame.  His Villanova counterpart, Dmitrii Kapranov, was equally as impressive in the extra frame.  Villanova almost broke through with less than two minutes to play as Wildcats points leader Charles Davis was tripped entering the offensive zone.  Disgruntled at the non-call, he and a teammate received 10-minute misconduct penalties, and neither team could find the net, and the game headed to the shootout.

Through the first two rounds of high-pressure attempts, it was still deadlocked.  Finally, in the third round, Reagan broke the tie for the Wildcats, putting the only successful shot of the shootout past Wiltshire to seal the comeback.  It was their first and only lead of the game.

What seemed to be a statement game Pitt, the Panthers watched a 3-0 first-period lead vanish into the frozen air of Alpha Ice Complex.

After storming out of the gate with three goals in the first ten minutes with Josh Hrip, Colby Bilski, and team points leader Augie Ashley all finding the back of the net, Pitt looked ready to break their recent slump.  Then, the first intermission arrived, and so did the Villanova Wildcats. 

Just 16 seconds after the break, freshman Brendan O'Brien sniped one past Wiltshire, signaling the start of the Wildcat resurgence.  Veteran Thomas Huard added another late in the second, cutting the lead to 3–2 and setting the stage for the chaotic final frame.

The loss is a tough pill to swallow for a Pitt team that appeared in total control early on and has struggled over their last ten games.  The Panthers are 3-7 in that stretch, hoping to turn things around in the rematch with the Wildcats Saturday at 2:20 p.m. at Alpha. For Villanova, the win marks a signature comeback against a top-25 opponent, fueled by resilience and a "never-say-never" third-period push.