NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk Admirals closed out their three-game weekend homestand on Sunday afternoon against the Trenton Ironhawks, looking to bounce back from Saturday night's defeat. After trailing through 40 minutes, Norfolk rallied in the third period before Brehdan Engum delivered the overtime winner, lifting the Admirals to a 4-3 victory in front of 3,145 fans at Norfolk Scope.

Goaltender Collin Delia finished the afternoon with 32 saves on 35 shots faced. Keegan McMullen led the Admirals with two goals, while Michael Citara recorded three assists, including one on the game-winning goal.

Norfolk came out strong in the opening period, spending much of the first 20 minutes in Trenton's defensive zone and generating several quality scoring chances.

Despite outshooting the Ironhawks 17-4, the Admirals couldn't get one past Trenton goaltender Ryan Fanti. Delia was equally sharp at the other end, stopping all four shots he faced as the teams headed into the first intermission scoreless.

The second period got off to a different start, as Trenton broke through on the power play at the 3:00 mark. Matthew Sop scored his first goal of the season to give the Ironhawks a 1-0 lead.

Norfolk answered midway through the period with a power-play goal of its own. At 9:39, McMullen scored his first goal of the season, with Kristóf Papp and Citara picking up assists to even the score at 1-1.

However, the Ironhawks regained the lead at 13:07 when Max Patterson scored his second goal of the season, putting Trenton back in front, 2-1.

The Admirals struggled to generate the same offensive pressure they had in the opening period, managing just seven shots in the middle frame. Trenton carried its one-goal advantage into the second intermission, leaving Norfolk with 20 minutes to find a response.

That response came early in the third period.

At the 4:53 mark, Ryan Gagnon capitalized on a power-play opportunity, scoring his second goal of the season to bring the Admirals even at 2-2. Citara and captain Brandon Osmundson collected assists on the play.

Less than four minutes later, Norfolk took its first lead of the afternoon.

McMullen struck again at 8:49, scoring his second goal of the game off assists from Osmundson and Engum to put the Admirals ahead, 3-2.

The lead didn't last long, however, as Trenton responded at 11:40. Mikey Colella scored to tie the game at 3-3, setting up a back-and-forth finish to regulation.

Norfolk faced another challenge late in the period when Engum was called for cross-checking, giving the Ironhawks an opportunity to regain the lead on the power play.

The Admirals managed to kill off the penalty, with Delia making several timely saves to keep the game tied. Neither team could break through in the closing minutes, sending the contest to overtime.

It took just over two minutes of the extra frame for Norfolk to find its winner.

At the 2:25 mark, Engum beat Fanti for his second goal of the season, with Citara earning the assist on the play. The goal secured a 4-3 victory and sent the Norfolk Scope crowd home celebrating.

The Admirals finished the afternoon with two power-play goals on four opportunities while killing off three of Trenton's four chances with the man advantage.

With the win, Norfolk improves to 5-6-0-1 on the season, taking four of a possible six points during its three-game homestand and closing out the weekend on a winning note.

SENTARA THREE STARS OF THE GAME

NOR – Brehdan Engum (1 Goal, 1 Assist, OT Winner)

NOR – Keegan McMullen (2 Goals)

NOR – Michael Citara (3 Assists)

NEXT UP

The Admirals will head back on the road next weekend for a three-game series against the Adirondack Thunder at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls, New York. The series begins Friday, November 13, with back-to-back 7 p.m. matchups on Friday and Saturday before wrapping up Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.