Second-ranked UW-Superior’s Chris Wilson scored his second goal of the game with 00:44 remaining in overtime as the Yellowjackets came from behind to defeat the Gustavus men’s hockey team 5-4 at Don Roberts Ice Rink on Friday night. The Gusties held a 4-3 lead late in the third period when Talon Berlando tied the score with 1:34 left in regulation to send the game into extra frames. Gustavus fell to 8-6-0 overall, while UW-Superior improved its overall mark to 14-1-1.
After a UW-Superior penalty early in the first period, James Leathers won the ensuing face-off, dropping the puck back to Cody Mosbeck. Mosbeck then passed the puck cross ice to Eric Bigham, who took a slap shot from the left point that surprised UW-Superior goaltender Chad Beiswenger for the first goal of the game at the 2:12 mark.
David Martinson put the Gusties ahead 2-0 when he got past two defenders before putting a wrist shot into the upper right corner of the net past Beiswenger while Gustavus was shorthanded. It was the 15th goal of the season for Martinson. Midway through the period, the Yellowjackets pulled to within one goal when Logan Isley put in a rebound on a power play after a scramble in front of Gustie goaltender Matt Lopes. UW-Superior had several scoring opportunities for the remainder of the period, but Lopes stood tall as Gustavus headed into the locker room at the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The Gusties went up 3-1 when Patrick Dynan checked a Yellowjacket player off the puck in the UW-Superior zone. Casey Dynan picked up the puck, skated in on Beiswenger, and tapped in the puck near the right post at 2:42 in the second period. UW-Superior tied the game at 3-3 after two goals from Talon Berlando and Chris Wilson in a span of 2:35 midway through the period.
Gustavus quickly regained the lead on the next shift when Brad Wieck put a wrist shot over Beiswenger’s blocker at the left face-off circle after receiving a pass from Martinson at 15:14. Matt Schugel was also credited with an assist on the play as the second period ended with the Gusties leading 4-3.
The Yellowjackets turned up the intensity in the third period as Gustavus fought to keep them off the board. With two minutes remaining, the Gusties were called for a cross-checking penalty, giving UW-Superior the extra attacker. The Yellowjackets called timeout, and with 1:34 left in regulation Berlando flipped a backhand rebound just under the crossbar to get over a sprawling Lopes to tie the contest.
As the teams appeared to be skating to a tie, Wilson scored the game-winning goal as the net came loose with 00:44 on the clock as Gustavus fell 5-4. Matt Lopes made 24 saves in the contest for the Gusties, while UW-Superior’s Chad Beiswenger recorded 20 saves. Gustavus was 1-for-5 on power-play chances compared to the Yellowjackets going 2-for-5.
The Gusties continues non-conference play against No. 15 St. Scholastica on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in St. Peter.