ALBERT LEA — Rochester Mayo built an impressive three-goal lead after two periods at Albert Lea City Arena — a tough place to build a three-goal lead — but Albert Lea rallied in the third period to pull out a 4-3 Big Nine Conference boys hockey win on Thursday.
John Kachmarzinski scored 6:29 into the game to give Mayo an early lead.
Joseph Villarama and Noah Hagen added goals in the second period to stretch that to a 3-0 game with just 17 minutes remaining.
But the homesteading Tigers methodically mounted a comeback. Zaden Brua scored 6:23 into the third to get the Tigers on the board, then Drake Sternhagen scored 67 seconds later and in the blink of an eye, it was a one-goal game.
That’s how it stayed until Brua scored again with 4:32 to play in regulation, knotting the score 3-3.
Mayo was called for a hooking penalty with just 1:25 to go in the third, and Albert Lea needed just 25 seconds to cash in. Brua and Bryson Gilliam set up Casey Ulve for a game-winning power-play goal with exactly 1 minute remaining.
Mayo (0-1-0 Big Nine, 1-3-0 overall) received 25 saves from Colton Brandt. Albert Lea goalie Owen Hansen made 22 stops.
The Spartans are back in action at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Faribault.
ALBERT LEA 4, MAYO 3
Mayo 1-2-0 — 3
Albert Lea 0-0-4 — 4
Mayo: John Kachmarzinski 1 goal; Joseph Villarama 1 goal, 1 assist; Noah Hagen 1 goal; Fionn Pittock 1 assist. Goalie: Colton Brandt 25 saves (29 shots).
Albert Lea: Zaden Brua 2 goals, 1 assist; Drake Sternhagen 1 goal, 1 assist; Casey Ulve 1 goal, 2 assists; Sam McGill 1 assist; Fletcher Pirsig 1 assist; Bryson Gilliam 1 assist. Goalie: Owen Hansen 22 saves (25 shots).
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