Last Minutes Heroics Provide a Win in Waterloo
Published on January 21, 2007 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Two goals from Will O'Neill, including the game-winning goal with 54 seconds remaining in the contest, gave the Lancers a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Black Hawks in Waterloo on Saturday, January 20th. The win moved the Lancers into sole possession of third place in the USHL West Division and within five points of first place Sioux City.
Waterloo took the lead in the game early in the second period after a scoreless first period. Ryan Cramer and Josh Turnbull found a way in the second period to solve new Lancer goalie Michal Valent for a 2-0 second intermission lead.
But Valent slammed the door on any future Waterloo opportunities from that point on, and the offense kicked in gear in the third period after a slow start in the first two periods.
O'Neill scored the first of his two goals at the 5:21 mark of the third period, assisted by Mark Olver and Jake Marto, to cut the Waterloo lead to 2-1. Andrew Conboy then tied the game with his 11th goal of the season (fifth power play goal of the year), assisted by Brett Bruneteau and Jarmo Jokila, at the 15:20 mark of the period, setting up O'Neill's last minute heroics. His screen shot from the right side slid through Waterloo defenders and past goaltender Ryan Rondeau at the 19:06 mark of the period, assisted by Matt Thurber, for the game-winning goal. It was O'Neill's fourth goal of the season and his first game-winning goal of the year. The score also gave O'Neill three points for the weekend, after getting an assist in a 7-4 win over Des Moines the previous night.
Waterloo out shot the Lancers by a 32-26 margin for the game. The Lancers were held to nine shots on goal in the first two periods, five in the first and four more in the second period, but peppered Rondeau for 17 shots in the third period of play.
Omaha scored once on the power play in four opportunities, while holding the Black Hawks scoreless in seven chances.
The Lancers were whistled 13 times for 29 minutes in penalties, while the Black Hawks were called 10 times for 23 minutes in penalty time.
A Slovakian native, Valent (1-0-0) stopped 30 shots on goal in his winning debut as a Lancer goaltender. Rondeau (7-3-3) made 23 saves in taking the loss in net for Waterloo.
The Lancers now have a three-game winning streak, are 8-2-0 in their last ten games, and are 4-1-0 in their last five. Their road trip around Iowa continues next weekend with a game Friday, January 26th in Cedar Rapids, and Saturday, January 27th in Sioux City. Both games can be heard on Magic 1490, KOMJ Radio, with pre-game coverage at 6:50 PM.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2007
- Last Minutes Heroics Provide a Win in Waterloo - Omaha Lancers
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