The Lawrence hockey team played a double header this weekend and both games were decided by goals in the last seconds of the third period.
Friday night in Milwaukee, the Vikings looked poised to pull out their first victory of the season, leading 1-0 near the end of the third. Sophomore Scott Minarcik scored for Lawrence with just under five minutes left in the game to give Lawrence the lead. The Raiders came back to tie the game with only five seconds remaining to force overtime. Simon Labrosse-Gelinas scored the goal for MSOE after just getting out of the penalty box. Then, in overtime, Steve Smiddy won the game for the Raiders after scoring with just over a minute left in overtime. Lawrence goalie sophomore Evan Johnson made 28 saves in the loss for the Vikings, and Connor Toomey made 24 saves to earn the win for MSOE.
The second game of the double header was just as dramatic as the first, but the outcome was more favorable for the Vikings. At Appleton Ice Center, it appeared as though Lawrence and MSOE were going to have to use overtime for the second time in as many games to decide the outcome of the MCHA game. But then, with just seconds remaining, Lawrence freshman Ben DiMarco scored on a breakaway to secure the first victory for Lawrence of this young season. The goal was DiMarco’s first collegiate goal of his career.
Penalty kills were crucial for Lawrence, as they had three in the third period alone. MSOE had six power play opportunities but they were unable to convert.
Johnson made 30 saves and earned the second shutout of his career.
Lawrence hits the ice again this weekend against the University of Minnesota-Crookston at the Appleton Ice Center.