NEW LONDON, Conn. – Sophomore Steven Senese (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) factored into a pair of goals as the Connecticut College men's ice hockey team battled back to salvage a 2-2 tie against Hamilton on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Arena.

Hamilton (5-6-3, NESCAC 4-4-1) scored first in the opening minutes and led throughout the first frame. Playing without a stick behind the goal, Sterling Bray kicked the puck over to Nick Hawkins, who slid a pass to a wide open Tommy Tanner in the slot for his first collegiate goal just 2:04 into the game.

The Continentals then doubled their lead on a play that started behind their own goal. Josh Labonte slid a pass behind the net to Sean Allen, and the junior passed the puck up and along the left boards to a breaking Nick Ursitti who finished with just 51.1 seconds remaining in the period.

Connecticut College, however, battled back and responded with two goals of its own in a span of 1:29 during the second frame. After a hard shot by Senese from the right point was blocked by Teddy Simson, junior Paul Capozzi (Lake Forest, Ill.) collected the puck and buried the rebound from behind the left dot at 4:51.

Simson nearly answered back at the other end with his team playing shorthanded a minute later when he came in all alone on a breakaway against senior Connor Rodericks (Buzzards Bay, Mass.), but the Camel netminder came away with a key save to keep the hosts within a goal.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts were able to net the equalizer while still on the power play when Senese redirected a puck that came off the stick of senior captain Ryan Petti (Tewksbury, Mass.). Capozzi, who sent the puck into Petti from the left point, was also credited with an assist on the play.

Hamilton outshot the Camels by a 13-9 margin during a scoreless third period and most notably had a third shot attempt hit off the pipe on a misfire by Labonte from the left corner. However, Rodericks came up with 13 saves for the second straight period to eventually force an extra session.

The Camels unleashed eight shot attempts, including four on target, in the extra session after battling back during regulation. The hosts had a 2-on-1 opportunity in the opening minute, but a centering pass from Matt Creamer to Jacob Moreau could not be finished. A final push in the final minute by the Continentals in the final minute was unsuccessful, and the game ended in a tie.

Rodericks made 35 saves for Connecticut College, while Hamilton's Anthony Tirabassi redirected 26 shots at the other end of the ice.

Connecticut College (6-7-1, NESCAC 2-5-1) will continue a four-game homestand when it faces top-ranked Trinity on Friday evening at 7 p.m.