Black Bears use late surge to drown Lakers
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GARDEN CORNERS -- The Big Bay de Noc Black Bears advanced to the district semifinals with a 3-1 victory over the Mackinac Island Lakers here Wednesday.
The Lakers scored first as senior Oliver Knutson scored with 33:30 to go in the first half. That goal came on one of only five shots on goal in the contest.
The Black Bears finally got on the board after several good shot opportunities were turned away. With 12:09 to go in regulation junior Eli Cooper scored off an assist by Finley Morris to tie the game at one.
"I saw Finley on the left side. He had a great opportunity to get a through ball to me and I used all the energy I had to get through the defense and I was able to get around the goalie and score it," Cooper said.
The game stayed tied as regulation ended sending the game to an additional two 10 minute halves.
The first half went scoreless before Big Bay senior Parker Pederson scored on a header with 6:45 to go to put the Black Bears up 2-1.
"That goal felt amazing," Pederson said. "Finley had the best crossover kick I ever seen and was able to get it in and this win was huge for us."
The Black Bears added an insurance goal with 4:59 to go in the game as junior Tanner Peterson scored to extend the Black Bears lead to 3-1.
"Hats off to Mackinac Island, they played a great game," Black Bears coach Alex Ranguette said. "They had us dead to rights for three quarters of the game until we snuck one in but their goalie was exceptional tonight."
The Black Bears will face Harbor Springs in the semifinals on Tuesday in Harbor Springs.
"This was a great way for Parker to go out," Ranguette said. "You think about these moments as a kid and this is one that will stay with him forever."