By Brian Tosti
OMAHA – The Bloomington Thunder were down twice on Saturday night against the Omaha Lancers, but countered back with four unanswered goals to take a 6-3 win on the road. Logan Lambdin scored four points in the game for the Thunder including the game-winning goal to start the third period. The Thunder improve to 21-12-3-1 with the win, while the Lancers fall to 19-15-2-1. The win is also the 50th in team history.
With a 3-3 tie at the end of the second period, the Thunder were able to take a strangle hold of the third period. A game high 12 shots came on net starting with Lambdin from Sean Harrison (Union College) and Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University). It was Lambdin’s second of the night and gave him 16 this season on a back door pass and tip. Lambdin struck for two on the night to give him 16 this season. It was also the first shot faced by goaltender Kris Oldham (University of Omaha-Nebraska, Tampa Bay Lighting) in relief. He would suffer the loss making nine saves on 11 shots through 20 minutes of action.
Lambdin returned the favor to Slaker when a rebound came to the Thunder captain and he put home his eighth goal of the season. The game would be 5-3, but not finished until Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) netted the final tally on an empty net. His 16th of the season ties Lambdin for the team lead in goals scored.
An onslaught of goals came in the second period to the dismay of the goaltenders. Ethan Somoza (Bemidji State University) picked up his second of the season to finish off the six-goal period. The game was tied at three thanks to the hard work play by Somoza, which was reviewed and confirmed on the ice.
Each team rattled off three as the Lancers began with a shorthanded goal for the second night. Brian Williams scored on a 2 on 1 with Nick Rivera (Minnesota State University-Mankato). His ninth of the year put the Lancers ahead 1-0 but under a minute and a half later, Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) would strike at the end of the power play for his ninth of the season. With a 1-1 tie, Lambdin wristed one past Zack Skog on the power play to give the Thunder their first lead of the game. Skog was pulled after the second making 13 saves on 16 shots, turning in no decision.
Austin Lemieux tied the game under a minute later on a drop play to the front of the net. Then Rivera scored on an impossible angle on the power play to give the Lancers the momentary lead. The five goals came 8 minutes apart, but ended the scoring for Omaha on the night. Logan Halladay (Merrimack College) ended the game with 23 saves and the win, his sixth of the season.
The Thunder return to Muskegon to continue their road trip. Bloomington and the Lumberjacks will battle in a two game weekend starting on Friday night at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. EST) from the L.C. Walker Arena.
