Thrilling Overtime Victory Propels Lincoln-Way into Quarterfinals of AHAI State Playoffs

In a nail-biting matchup, the #8 Lincoln-Way (LW) boys’ hockey team edged past #9 Naperville with a 2-1 victory in overtime in the first round of the AHAI State Playoffs.

The first period ended scoreless, with both teams exhibiting strong defensive plays and solid goaltending. However, the momentum shifted in the second period when Luke Riechers broke the deadlock at 3:10, finding the back of the net with assists from Colin Lassiter and Quinten Lange.

As the clock wound down in the third period, Naperville fought back, managing to score the equalizer with just 2:03 left, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the intensity reached a fever pitch. Finally, at 12:01, Colin Lassiter heroically netted the game-winning goal, securing the victory for LW and propelling them into the quarterfinal. The triumph was buoyed by a stellar performance from goaltender Ryan Sullivan, who demonstrated his skill and composure by stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced.

With this victory, Lincoln-Way advances to face the winner of the highly anticipated matchup between #1 BGHW and #17 Oswego on March 4th at 6:30 PM, a game that promises to be an exciting showdown at West Meadows Ice Arena.