Villanova Survives Pitt Comeback Attempt, Completes Weekend Sweep

Villanova Captain Thomas Lynch (4) handles the puck behind the Pittsburgh goal during a game against the Panthers on Saturday, Janaury 24, 2026 at Alpha Ice Complex. -- (Ed Major II/PHC)

HARMAR TWP., Pa. — The Villanova Wildcats (14-4-1, 9-1-1 ECHA) used a hat trick from Brendan O’Brien and a timely third-period power play goal to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers (11-10-3, 6-3-1 ACC) Saturday afternoon, 7-5, at Alpha Ice Complex to play spoiler for Pitt’s “senior night” that honored eight graduating seniors in a pregame ceremony. 

Jack Fidacaro had put the Wildcats up by two goals less than halfway through the third period — their largest lead of the game — before Pitt forward Quinten Shaffer brought the Panthers to within a goal with less than six minutes remaining, mounting a comeback that could only be described as desperation by the seniors to go out with a win.  With just 52 seconds remaining, though, O’Brien buried an empty netter from right in front of the Pitt bench, earning the hat trick and putting the final nail in the coffin and completing the weekend sweep. 

The late-game drama followed a heartbreaking series of events for the Panthers.  Pitt’s starting goaltender Joe Ambroffi was forced to exit the contest due to an apparent injury, heading straight to the locker room.  Sophomore goaltender Samuel Coppola was thrust into the game cold and was immediately greeted by a Villanova onslaught.  Just minutes after the change, Fidacaro found the back of the net to give the Wildcats a 6-4 cushion — a lead that proved too much for Pitt to overcome despite Shaffer’s late-game heroics.

The contest began as a seesaw battle.  In response to Pitt’s fast 3-0 start Friday night, Villanova opened the scoring less than 3 minutes into Saturday’s tilt by O’Brien.  Pitt senior Josh Hrip answered back to tie it 1-1 midway through the period, but Davian Peretti regained the lead for the Wildcats late.

The second period turned into the Eddie Pazo show, to the delight of his parents and the other 7 Pitt seniors.  Pazo scored a power play goal early in the second period to tie the game 2-2.  His second power play goal of the night, a dramatic shot from 15 feet out into an open net after Villanova’s Lou LaRatta was caught out of position, tied the game 4-4 with only 9 seconds left in the period.  The momentum, however, shifted early in the third with the Villanova power play goal to make it 5-4 and the replacement of Pitt’s starting goaltender.

While the Panthers leave their home ice with a 8-4-2 record, the performance of the senior class — responsible for four of the team's five goals — offered a glimpse of the grit that head coach Stu Rulnick has preached all season.  For Villanova, the sweep of No. 23 ranked Pitt solidifies their standing as a potential national contender, fueled by a freshman class that refused to be intimidated by the Senior Night atmosphere in Pittsburgh.