Finlandia tops Lawrence in overtime

HANCOCK, Mich. — Finlandia University scored in the final minute of regulation and went on to a 4-3 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association overtime win over Lawrence University on Friday at the Houghton Civic Center.

The Lions (6-16-0, 6-11-0 MCHA) tied the game at 3-3 when Cody Essel scored with an extra attacker on the ice for Finlandia. The Lions then won it on Cameron Goude’s goal 2:32 into overtime.

Lawrence (6-14-2, 5-10-2 MCHA) fell behind just 34 seconds into the game when Derek Rodgers scored for Finlandia. The Vikings tied the game at 1-1 on Brandon Boelter’s sixth goal of the season at the 3:53 mark of the first.

Senior forward Brad Scurfield gave Lawrence a 2-1 lead when he scored on the power play at the 9:46 mark of the second. The score stayed that way until Travis Armstrong scored for Finlandia at the 7:12 mark of the third to tie the game at 2-2.

Lawrence grabbed the lead back at 3-2 when freshman forward Logan Lemirande scored off a pass from Scurfield with 4:51 remaining in regulation. Finlandia pulled goaltender Troy Chandler with just under a minute left and Essel scored seven seconds later to tie the game and force the overtime.

Chandler made 37 saves for Finlandia, and Fabian Sivnert stopped 15 shots for Lawrence. The Vikings enjoyed a 40-19 edge in shots on goal.

The teams wrap up the series on Saturday afternoon.

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