Last Minute Break Gives Lakers Win Over UNO

University of Nebraska-Omaha's Jeric Agosta (left) and LSSU's Rick Schofield get ready for a second period faceoff during the Lakers and Mav's Friday night game.

K. Johnston/Eagle Feature & Image

Jan. 15, 2010 - LSSU was out shot 38 to 29 by the visiting University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) Mavericks Friday night but a score with less than two minutes left in the third period after a missed off side call put the game into the Lakers win column.

University of Nebraska-Omaha's Terry Broadhurst (top, center) and Jeric Agosto (bottom, center) watch as the puck goes into the LSSU net despite the eforts of the Lakers goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson (left) and defenders Kyle Haines (top, right) and Will Acton (bottom right) during the Lakers and Mav's Friday night game.

Both the Mavericks and the Lakers came into this weekends series looking to improve their CCHA standings and UNO managed to get on the board first just short of the halfway point of the first period when senior Jeric Agosto score from inside a scrum at the front of the Lakers net. The Lakers Nick McParland scored the only second period goal just two seconds after the end of a LSSU power play evening the score at one headed into the third.

LSSU's Will Acton (left) and Zach Trotman (right) grab team mate Rick Schofield (center) after he score the game winning goal during the Lakers Friday night game against the visiting University of Nebraska-Omaha.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation time LSSU’s Will Acton stole the puck in the defensive zone and headed up ice accompanied by line mates Zach Trotman and Rick Schofield. Schofield found himself the recipient of an almost perfect pass from Acton and beat Mavs goalie John Faulkner for the game winner. Fortunatley for the Lakers the on ice officials did not whistle the play dead when Acton entered the zone ahead of the puck making him off side. Had the call been made it would have negated Schofields score giving the Mavs the chance to either score themselves or send the game to overtime.

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks head coach Dean Blais voices his displeasure after the end of the third period about a missed call that cost his team their Friday night game against the Lake Superior State Lakers.

UNO head coach Dean Blais was visibly upset about the missed call pleading his case on the ice with officials after the final buzzer. “From my spot he looked off side, and after watching the tape he was definitely offside” said Lakers head coach Jim Roque after the game. “I feel bad for them, they played real hard tonight.”

The win, along with a loss by Alaska Fairbanks puts the Lakers into a tie for fourth in the CCHA standings for the time being. The Mavericks will have a chance to split the series when the two teams face off again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie.