SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Junior Dane Rimko of No. 22 Mercyhurst scored at the 103rd minute to advance his team to the next round of the NCAA tournament. Mercyhurst won 1-0 in double overtime against Notre Dame (Ohio) to improve to 16-6-0 in the season. Notre Dame (Ohio) completed its season with an overall record of 15-4-0.
The Lakers controlled majority of the first half as they played with the wind that contributed to the play throughout the entire match. After the first half, the Lakers had outshot the Falcons six to three with three of the Mercyhurst shots reaching the Notre Dame (Ohio) net.
Late in the second half, Notre Dame (Ohio) took control of most of the game, only allowing two Mercyhurst shots to the Falcons nine. The Lakers had to play defense against the 25 mile per hour winds which took away some of the offensive attack.
Both teams hit the crossbar with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Goaltender Mikko Sarkkinen also had the help with his post with just three minutes to spare to remain scoreless and forced overtime.
Throughout the 10 minutes, Mercyhurst again had to fight the wind on the offensive attack. Both teams had just one attempted shot reach the netminders. Mercyhurst controlled most of the offense with three shots to the Falcons two shots.
Rimko scored his first career game-winning goal to advance his team to the third round of the NCAA playoffs. Junior Fernando Martinez set up Rimko with a through ball in outside the 17-yard line. Martinez's through ball went past five Falcon defenseman and right to the feet of Rimko. Rimko made one step and passed the ball through goaltender Jan Skorupinski to end the contest at the 103rd minute.
Martinez's assist marked his 27th career assist at Mercyhurst and is now the record for all-time career assists at Mercyhurst. The junior tied leader Mike Blythe with 26 assists during the PSAC championship match, and set the new record after assisting the game-winning goal on Sunday.
Sarkkinen (9-4-0) captured his fourth shutout of the season after saving all four shots faced. Skorupinski suffered his second loss of the season, 12-2-0, after making six saves on seven shots.
