Lancers Force Overtime, But Fall in Waterloo
February 25, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
WATERLOO, IA. - The Lancers arrived at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa with intentions of evening up the weekend for themselves, as they fell the night prior (2/24) to the Des Moines Buccaneers by a score of 5-2 at Buccaneer Arena.
Although the Waterloo has had a very successful season, ranking second in the western conference at a 28-14-1-0 record, they have not been able to take down the Lancers in regulation since the 2020-21 season. As Omaha sits at a record of 6-0-2-2 in their last ten matchups with the Black Hawks. Sitting at 1-0-1-1 on the current season, and looking to keep their point streak alive.
Waterloo found the back of the net first while shorthanded just under eight minutes in as Aaron Pionk chipped a pass out to Owen Baker in the neutral zone who then had a 2-on-1 break-in with Myles Hilman. Baker was able to thread a pass over to Hilman for a one-timer goal to take the 1-0 lead.
Just four minutes later the Lancers tickled the twine as Riley Rosenthal connected with Tanner Rowe on a stretch pass. Rowe sent an odd angle shot that resulted in a kick save by Black Hawks netminder, Jack Spicer, but the rebound connected with the stick of Charlie Lurie who buried it, locking the game at one.
The first period concluded in the one goal tie, with the shot count sitting at 12-7 in favor of Waterloo.
The second period was kicked off with a Black Hawks goal just 4:24 in from Garrett Schifsky to gain a 2-1 lead over the Lancers, which would be the lead they carried into the final period.
It was a hectic finish to the second period. Following a boarding call given to Jaedan Kerr with 1:27 left to play, a swarm of altercations swarmed as Luke Baker and Patrick Geary were handed five-minute majors and 10-minute misconducts for fighting, along with Tucker Shedd and David Klee being given a double minor for roughing, along with 10-minute misconducts.
With the Lancers being down to six men on defense to start this matchup, they would find themselves with just four defensemen to play in for the majority of the third period with Baker and Shedd sidelined for nearly the entirety of the third.
Even with the short roster the Lancers outscored Waterloo 2-1 in the final period, as Logan Morrell opened up the final frame scoring it a goal just 3:06 into the period.
Following an odd-angle shot from Ryan Kusler, Morrell crashed the net and slammed in the rebound past Spicer to lock the game at two goals apiece.
The tie game lasted ten minutes until Griffin Erdman scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound off a shot from Schifsky to pull back ahead, 3-2.
Finally, with 2:03 to play, Lurie flew off the bench, held the blue line and put a shot on net that resulted in a kick save by Spicer. Kusler hacked the rebound across the goal crease to Griffin Jurecki who tapped in the feed to tie the game, 3-3 and force overtime.
After a high-quality scoring chance by each team in the overtime period, Waterloo forced a neutral zone turnover just over four minutes in, leading to a breakaway for Miko Matikka. And after a wrist shot from the hash marks, he knocked it off the post and in for the game winner past Lancers' goaltender, Michael Hrabal, as Waterloo snatched the 4-3 overtime victory.
The Lancers begin the back end of their seven-game road trip with a trip to Fargo next weekend. Puck is set to drop Friday, March 3rd at 7:05PM CST. That game can be caught on FloSports and Mixlr.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2023
- Cedar Rapids Downs Youngstown 3-1 to Avoid Sweep - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lancers Force Overtime, But Fall in Waterloo - Omaha Lancers
- The Aftermath: Storm Completes Weekend Sweep - Tri-City Storm
- Stars Drop Last Game of February - Lincoln Stars
- Matikka Makes a Memorable Finish - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel Blanked by Green Bay in 2-0 Loss - Chicago Steel
- Jacks Stunned at Home, Fall 5-1 to 17's for Weekend Split - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Caps Fall in OT to Dubuque 4-3 - Madison Capitols
- Tri-City Storms Past Musketeers - Sioux City Musketeers
- Jacks Stunned at Home, Fall 5-1 to USA 17's for Weekend Split - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Herd Sweep Stars - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Bowers Goes Back to Boston - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm Seeks Weekend Sweep of Musketeers - Tri-City Storm
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