Mathew Berry-Lamontagna played hero Saturday night as SFU avenged a 4-3 loss the night before against the Selkirk College Saints with a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory in Castlegar in the last regular season road games of the season.

Selkirk came to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period, taking advantage of SFU penalties. The first goal came in four on four action, just six seconds after SFU negated a power play by taking a penalty, while the second came while SFU was on the penalty kill 17 seconds after the call. Selkirk outshot SFU 13-6.

However, SFU began to turn things around in the second, taking advantage of six Selkirk penalties, outshooting the Saints 15-6.

Graham Smerek tipped a Mitch Crisanti shot on the power play with 1:58 left in the period to put the Clan on the scoreboard. The goal was Smerek’s third of the season.

With only 37 seconds left in the game, Berry-Lamontagna shot in his second goal in two games, and a career high seventh goal, to tie up the game. Darnel St Pierre and Jono Ceci were awarded assists.

Overtime was not enough and the game went to a shootout. Ceci missed his attempt, but Berry-Lamontagna didn’t and netted the game-winner. Berry-Lamontagna has scored four of five attempts this season. Liem saved all three Selkirk attempts and made 29 of 31 saves in the game (.935 SV%), bouncing back after being pulled the night before.

The night before, after a scoreless first period, SFU was down 4-2 after a six goal bonanza of a second period.

Selkirk opened the scoring on the power play, but Michael Sandor tied it up with his ninth goal of the season from Mak Barden.

However, just 11 seconds later, Selkirk regained the lead with the first of three goals scored in a 1:40 by the defending BCIHL champion.

Berry-Lamontagna would cut the Selkirk lead to two with 6:37 left in the second.

Ceci would score his 65th career goal — three off of the BCIHL record — to put the Clan within one, however, despite great chances in the third, SFU were unable to tie the game.

Despite the loss, SFU outshot Selkirk 32-28, and Barden and Berry-Lamontagna had multi-point nights. Goalie Lyndon Stanwood was perfect in relief making all 13 saves.

With the victory, SFU takes sole possession of first place. SFU will look to solidify that first place spot when these two teams face each other again at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre this Friday at 7 pm. SFU students get in free with student ID, while adult tickets are $10 and children’s/senior’s $5.