HANCOCK, Mich. -- Matt Jacobs' goal with one second left in the second period proved to be the game-winner, as the Lawrence University hockey team downed Finlandia University 3-2 in a Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association game Friday night.
Jacobs' goal came off assists from Scott Minarcik and Aaron LaFave and broke a 2-2 tie. It was Jacobs' seventh goal of the season and kept Lawrence (10-11-3, 10-8-1 MCHA) alive in the battle for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The Vikings entered play Friday night one point behind MSOE, which hosted Marian.
Lawrence struck first, as Jon Sacks got his first goal of the season, with assists going to freshmen Jacob Esch and Tom Gering, at 7:54.
Joe Beaudry tied it for Finlandia at 3:28 of the second on a power-play goal, but Scott Minarcik answered for Lawrence with an unassisted goal at 7:19.
Lawrence's lead didn't last long, as Travis Hanson scored 1:40 later on the power play to tie the game at 2-2.
Jacobs' goal just before the buzzer to end the second period gave Lawrence back the lead, and freshman goaltender Evan Johnson made 11 third-period saves to make that lead stand up. Johnson finished with 23 saves on the night.
Lawrence, which has won five straight, wraps up the series Saturday at Finlandia.