MIDDLEBURY, VT. -  A herculean double overtime performance by sophomore goaltender Patrick McDevitt was the saving grace for the No. 5 Wesleyan men's ice hockey team in an extraordinary defensive effort that broke the all-time single-game saves record. Saturday afternoon's NESCAC Championship quarterfinal between No. 5 Wesleyan and No. 4 Middlebury College ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 double overtime loss for Wesleyan following a very late game-tying goal.

To do everything but stand on his head, McDevitt faced 76 shots on goal and allowed just three goals against to finish with the program record 73 saves in a single game. The previous record of 65 saves was set by Tim Sestak '20 in the 2019 triple overtime NESCAC Semifinal against Amherst. McDevitt's 73 saves are also a NESCAC Championship record for the most saves in a single game. That record was also previously held by Sestak.

Despite the shot margin falling to 76-26 in favor of the Panthers, the first period fell scoreless as the Cardinals killed two Panthers' power plays. The goals would not fall until the second period with the first rolling off the stick of Jack Bosco '26. Forcing a turnover in the neutral zone, Danny Judge '26 directed the puck down the near boards before his initial shot goaltender Andrew Heinze deflected wide to Bosco. Bosco's shot fell between Heinze's right pad and the post.

Falling into the third period, the Cardinals would take a two-goal lead nearing the halfway point. Regaining the zone, the Cardinals fished the puck into the far corner, setting Owen Mahar '29 up for the shot down the middle as Jack DesRuisseaux '29 fed the pass from wide of the goal line. Mahar's one-timer caught Heinze too far to his right.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, the Panthers called a time out and returned to the ice with Heinze on the bench for the extra skater. The call from the bench worked as the Panthers cut the Cardinals' lead in half from the resulting faceoff. Heinze remained on the bench, and the Panthers tied the game, forcing overtime. Luc Malkhassian and Landon Brownlee were credited with the goals

20 minutes of playoff overtime was not enough for either team, but the Panthers totaled 14 shots on McDevitt before the second overtime period began. After ringing two shots off the crossbar and 24 minutes of extra time, Tyler Wishart nailed the game-winning goal to advance the Panthers to the NESCAC semifinal.

Hayden Hanes '27, Connor Sutherland '27, Danny Markham '28, and Judge all led with three shots on goal apiece. Bosco totaled seven blocked shots with Judge winning 11 draws off the faceoff.

Heinze earned the win for the Panthers with 24 saves.

The Cardinals finish the season with a final 9-16-0 overall record with an 8-10-0 conference record.