DE PERE - St. Norbert College and UW-Stevens Point squared off for the 84th time and played one of the best games in its storied rivalry, with the Green Knights pulling out a 4-3 overtime thriller in a non-conference tussle at Cornerstone Community Center.
Will Stromp's goal with 13.1 seconds remaining in the extra session sent St. Norbert to its third-consecutive overtime win. It was only the third time in program history the Green Knights have played three-straight overtime games, and the first time they had won three overtime games in a row. St. Norbert has now won six of seven and 10 of its last 12 games overall.
Stevens Point won an offensive-zone draw with 26 seconds remaining in overtime but Stromp eventually poke-checked the puck free, carrying it into the St. Norbert offensive end. After dekeing a defender, Stromp fired over the shoulder of Stevens Point goaltender Alex Proctor and scored after drawing some iron on the shot to set off a wild celebration by the Green Knights.
St. Norbert got the early lead when
Curtis Hammond took a pass from
Gustav Portillo and scored from the back side at 8:42 of the first period for a 1-0 lead that would hold up through intermission.
Stevens Point would take a 2-1 lead early in the second period. David Hill scored at 3:15 after St. Norbert attempted to send the puck behind its own net, but the puck ricocheted off an official right to Hill, who finished into an open net. Tyler German then scored at 7:53 to push the Pointers out front.
Adam Stacho tied the game for St. Norbert when he finished off a centering pass at 12:04 of the second. The game would stay tied into second intermission.
St. Norbert took a 3-2 lead when Stromp scored on a terrific individual effort, using some stick work to create time space on a Stevens Point defender and then powered the puck past Proctor 50 seconds into the third period. That goal would hold up until Stevens Point converted a goal by Conor Witherspoon at 16:28.
Stromp's two goals gave him a two-point game, while
Michael Black finished with two assists for two points.
Shots were even at 29-29.
Hunter Garvey made 26 saves for the Green Knights, while Proctor made 25 stops for the Pointers.
St. Norbert was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Stevens Point was 0-for-1.
