MANISTIQUE — Victory was within reach for the Manistique Emeralds here Sunday.

Despite a valiant effort, however, the Emeralds dropped a 4-3 hockey decision in overtime to the Fenton-Linden Griffins.

Senior forward Keagan Myers scored the game winner from the slot two minutes, nine seconds into the overtime, enabling the Griffins to improve to 4-7.

The Emeralds (1-10-1) who trailed two goals after the second period responded with three unanswered goals, taking a 3-2 on a shot from the left faceoff circle by sophomore Jarrett Zellar with 2:24 left in regulation.

Fenton answered with 55 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the score on a shorthanded goal by senior forward and team captain Robbie Smeltzer to force the overtime.

“That was huge,” F-L coach Jason Warda said. “We had nothing going before that. We played three games in three days. I think fatigue was a factor. Our team has good chemistry. The guys get along well.”

Zellar got the Emeralds on the board on a shot from inside the left circle 2:49 into the third stanza.

Sophomore defenseman Gavin Maki then tied the contest with a rebound from the doorstep at 4:32.

“We hadn’t planned for that,” Emeralds’ coach Steve Hinkson said. “We were missing some guys. We had to jumble up our lines. We used a couple different lines which seemed to help.”

Junior forward Trenton Rockman sneaked the puck past Manistique senior goaltender Jackson Goudreau, giving the Griffins a 1-0 lead 7:12 into the contest.

Senior forward Easton Laphan scored their second goal on a 5-on-3 power play 28 seconds into the second frame, which was the only goal allowed by the Emeralds’ penalty-kill unit during the Griffins’ five-minute power play.

The Griffins outshot the Emeralds 45-18. Goudreau stopped 41 shots and F-L sophomore goaltender Will Terry had 15 saves.

“They absolutely had momentum in the third period,” Warda said. “Their goalie played really well.”

F-L won at Negaunee 5-3 Friday night and fell to Kingsford in Iron Mountain 8-2 Saturday.

The Emeralds travel to Rhinelander, Wis. where they’ll face the host Hodags Dec. 29 and Medford the following day. The Griffins host Tawas Area Jan. 2.