ST. CATHERINES, Ont. -
Travis Verbeek scored 39 seconds into overtime to lift the Laurier Golden Hawks to a 5-4 victory over the Brock Badgers on Friday night.
Verbeek's unassisted winner capped a back-and-forth contest that featured eight goals over the final two periods and erased multiple swings in momentum before 600 fans at Canada Games Park.
After a scoreless first period defined by tight checking and limited clean entries, the game opened up quickly in the second.
Bryce Sutherland put Laurier on the board at 1:41, finishing a feed from Max-Antoine Melancon. The duo connected again less than five minutes later, this time with Sutherland setting up Melancon at 6:10 to make it 2-0.
Brock answered midway through the frame. Colby Saganiuk cut the deficit to one at 12:36, and Tai York tied the game at 15:38 as the Badgers capitalized on sustained pressure.
Sutherland restored Laurier's lead with his second goal of the night at 17:54, converting from Melancon and David Paglia. The advantage was short-lived, however, as Ryan Stepien responded just 31 seconds later to send the teams into the third period tied 3-3 after a six-goal middle frame.
Laurier regained the lead early in the third when Verbeek redirected a pass from Lucas Chard and Thomas Lenart at 2:26. Brock pulled even again at 7:01 on Jordan Stock's goal, setting the stage for overtime.
The extra frame didn't last long. Verbeek forced a turnover and beat Brock goaltender Ben Bonisteel over the shoulder to secure the win.
Andrew Ness turned aside 38 shots for Laurier.
Neither side converted on the power play. The Golden Hawks went 0-for-3 with the man advantage, while Brock finished 0-for-3 despite generating three shots during a lengthy second-period opportunity.
Sutherland and Verbeek each scored twice for Laurier, while Melancon added a goal and two assists for a three-point night. Stepien had a goal and an assist for Brock.
Head coach and manager of operations Kevin Forrest said the result reflected his team's resilience.
"We weren't our best, but we're learning how to win when things aren't clean," Forrest said. "That's an important step for this team."
The win moves Laurier into a tie for third place in the OUA West standings.
The Golden Hawks travel to Windsor on Saturday for a 4 p.m. puck drop at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Centre.
