Overcoming an early two-goal deficit, Scott Parse scored the game winning goal 10:24 into overtime Saturday, giving Nebraska-Omaha a 4-3 win over Lake Superior State and advancing the Mavericks to the CCHA Super Six at the Joe Louis Arena.
Lake Superior State (9-22-7, 8-16-6 CCHA) started strong, as Laker Colin Nicholson gave his team the lead at 7:38 of the first period. B.J. Pelkey assisted on the goal after intercepting the puck from Maverick Rob Chappell.
Less than a minute later, sophomore Jeff Rainville lengthened LSSU’s lead to two. Ren Fauci made a pass to Jon Booras, who set Rainville up for his goal. Rainville made a wrist shot from the top of the left circle sending the puck soaring past Maverick goaltender Chris Holt.
Once again, the Nebraska-Omaha (19-15-4, 15-11-4) power play proved deadly when Brandon Scero put his team on the board with less than two minutes remaining in the first period. Mick Lawrence and Bryan Marshall assisted on the goal.
The Lakers’ lead in the second period was then short-lived. Just 1:18 into the period, Chappell scored on Laker goaltender Jeff Jakaitis. Alex Nikiforuk earned the assist.
For the third time of the weekend, UNO proved why it is one of the top teams in the CCHA on the power play. Two minutes into the third period, Laker Alex Dunn was sent to the penalty box on a hooking call. Scero took advantage for the second time to give his team its first lead of the night. Bill Thomas and Lawrence assisted on the goal.
Less than two minutes later, Booras scored his 10th goal of the season to tie the game at 3. Booras is the only Laker to end the season with goals in double digits. Sophomore Derek R. Smith assisted on the goal.
The two teams ended regulation play that way, forcing overtime, where Holt stymied the Lakers’ best scoring chances until Parse ended the Lakers’ hopes of taking the series into a third game with his 19th goal of the year. Mike Eikman and Thomas notched the assists.
The Mavericks outshot the Lakers 43-30. Jakaitis made 39 saves, while Holt stopped 27 of the Lakers shots.
