York Comes From Behind For Overtime Win On The Road Against Loyola Gold

By Ross Forman, 10/19/25, 12:15AM CDT

Jimmy Spano Scores The Game-Tying, Game-Winning Goals As Ramblers Suffer Another Third Period Meltdown

York head coach Evan Poulakidas was confident the Dukes could and would rally in the third period Saturday night on the road against Loyola Gold, despite trailing 4-2 after two periods.

Many of the Dukes looked defeated in the locker room, their heads down during the break. Poulakidas stressed that there are still 17-minutes to be played, “and you certainly are capable (of coming back), if you believe it.”

Senior forward Jack Paschen told his teammates that they needed to score within the first five or seven minutes of the final period. And Paschen was the one who delivered, scoring :46 into the third, assisted by Chris Pretzie, cutting the score to 4-3.

“That was an enormous goal for us. It really lifted us,” Poulakidas said. “That was huge, maybe the biggest goal of the year for us.”

York forward Jimmy Spano added: “We never lost energy (after Paschen’s goal).”

Spano tied the game, 4-4, with 1:35 remaining, tapping home a cross-ice pass from Ethan Maurer. And Spano was the hero in overtime, scoring the unassisted game-winning goal at 4:02.

The Dukes won 5-4, pushing their SHL record to 2-3 and ending a three-game losing streak. The Ramblers fall to 3-3 and have now lost two in a row, both with disastrous third periods.

“Another game where we had a great first and second period, but not a good third period,” said Loyola head coach Scott Ciraulo. “We had a bad opening shift (of the third period) and then the boys played nervous. We want them to attack, but they kind of sat back, fumbled a few pucks on the breakout, didn’t get pucks in deep sufficiently enough (into the offensive zone).”

Spano’s post-game celebration also was a learning lesson. In the team’s last game – a 3-2 overtime home loss to Saint Viator on October 10 – Spano had a prime scoring chance late but took it to his backhand and missed the net. The Lions then took the puck down the ice and scored the game-winner. “I watched the replay and the forehand (against Viator) was wide open. I learned my lesson,” he said. “I saw my linemate changing and saw Loyola changing (too), so I took the opportunity to skate it in and just take it to the net, and it worked out for us.

“This goal is up there (all-time for me), for sure. This felt like a playoff game for us, especially as an overtime winner.”

Poulakidas wasn’t surprised Spano scored. “He’s so fast and quick. There are very few goalies who can get across (the crease) and (in doing so), they have to open their five-hole, so he has two ways to beat a goalie with his speed and quickness.

“This was such a big game. Tonight, could change a lot of things for us.”

The Ramblers struck first as Julian Gabal scored, assisted by Luke Berghoff. The Dukes answered late in the first period with a goal by Keaton Nix, assisted by Luke Composono and William Brown. It was 1-1 after one.

Then the Ramblers really came alive to build a 4-2 lead after two. The Loyola goal-scorers in the second were Maxxim Kading, Jack Blazejowski and Chris Cox.

Mitch Fifinski had the lone York goal in the second.

“I liked our game early. There were just some unfortunate goals scored on us,” Poulakidas said. “I told the team (after the second period), ‘If we get the next goal, you will win the hockey game.’ I’m not sure they believed it, but we did.

“I thought we had a fantastic third period.

“And after two really tough (one-goal) losses to Saint Ignatius and Saint Viator (earlier this month), I thought it was really important for their psychology to understand how good they can be and are. I really believe in this squad. I think this team is as talented as any team I’ve ever coached. They just have to believe that.”

Spano added: “At the beginning of the season, we knew it was our year; we’ve been battling overtime loses and we’ve been right there with the top teams three games in a row. To finally get a win under our belt really means a lot to us.”

Charlie Niego faced 26 shots in goal for the Ramblers.

Oscar Pysz and Peter Kallianis split goaltending duties for the Dukes and they faced 25 shots from Loyola.

“I thought our offense looked as good as it did all season,” Ciraulo said. “It’s just frustrating to have such a good two periods and then a meltdown in the third period.”

The Ramblers surrendered two third period goals to Viator at home on October 15, leading to a 3-1 Lions victory.

Loyola returns to SHL action Sunday, October 19, playing host to Stevenson.

The Dukes play Lake Forest on Sunday, October 19, in Rosemont.