APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University kept its slim playoff hopes alive Saturday with a thrilling 6-5 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Northland College at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Brad Mueller’s goal just 57 seconds into overtime gave Lawrence the victory after Northland rallied to tie it on three different occasions in the final period. Mueller scored off a pass from Josh Koepplinger to score his second goal of the season and the first game-winner of his career.
The win keeps the Vikings in the playoff hunt as Lawrence trails Northland by four points with two games left to play.
Lawrence (6-14-3, 5-10-3 NCHA) led 3-2 heading into the third period after Austin Frank’s goal early in the second period had put the Vikings on top.
Lucas DeBenedet scored on the power play just 2:27 into the third to tie the game at 3-3. It didn’t stay tied for long as Lane King scored at the 4:36 mark to put Lawrence up 4-3. Jacob Jeske tied it again for Northland when he scored at the 13:41 mark to make it 4-4.
The Vikings then took advantage of a power-play chance when Koepplinger scored on the man-advantage off a pass from King with 1:09 left in regulation. Northland (10-11-2, 8-9-1) came right back for the equalizer as Ty Kraus scored with 32 seconds left to tie it at 5-5.
Northland jumped on top with a power-play goal from Max Glashauser just 3:15 into the game. Koepplinger countered with a power-play goal of his own at the 5:07 mark to tie the game at 1-1.
Nick Trefry put Northland back on top with a goal at the 8:23 mark, but Blake Roubos scored 31 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2.
Evan Cline picked up his third victory of the season by making 33 saves for the Vikings. AJ Smith stopped 48 shots and took the loss for Northland. Lawrence had a 54-38 edge in shots.