Lancers Keep Slamming the Door
October 14, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Michael Hrabal stopped 38 shots as the Omaha Lancers prevailed against the Waterloo Black Hawks 4-2 at Young Arena on Friday.
The 17-year-old’s performance was right on par with the trend between the Hawks and Lancers last season. Over six meetings in 2021/22, Omaha goalies turned away 162 of 171 Waterloo chances, which works out to a .947 save percentage.
Hrabal’s offensive support was established in the latter stages of the first period. A Black Hawks turnover near the Omaha blue line led to the only goal before intermission. Frank D’Ancona made the takeaway and sped up the left boards. He cut through the left circle and across the top of the crease before lifting in an unassisted backhander at 12:00.
Omaha extended the lead to 3-0 with two second period goals. At 1:33, Emmett Croteau made a save, but the puck sprang off of him, then reversed direction off a defender and slipped across the goal line. The score was credited to Charlie Lurie. The Lancers added another during an abbreviated power play at 14:24 when Andon Cerbone put a rebound under the crossbar from below the right circle.
Connor Brown drew the Hawks closer on a broken play at 11:59 of the third. A pass intended for Patrick Geary came to Brown instead, and he squeezed a shot between Hrabal and the post to his right.
Waterloo lifted Croteau for an extra attacker with nearly four minutes left, and Omaha’s Evan Werner scored into the open net from the Hawks blue-line at 16:44. Thirty-one seconds later, Owen Baker notched Waterloo’s final goal – six-on-five – by capitalizing on a rebound chance from near the top of the crease.
The Hawks now go on the road for their next three games, beginning Saturday evening versus the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
Omaha 1 2 1 – 4
Waterloo 0 0 2 – 2
1st Period-1, Omaha, D’Ancona 1 12:00. Penalties-Bump Oma (high sticking), 0:58; Geary Wat (holding), 14:28.
2nd Period-2, Omaha, Lurie 2 1:33. 3, Omaha, Cerbone 1 (Lurie, Werner), 14:24 (PP). Penalties-Cerbone Oma (tripping), 11:58; Thoreson Wat (tripping), 12:59.
3rd Period-4, Waterloo, Brown 1 (Geary, Hong), 11:59. 5, Omaha, Werner 3 (Benoit, Jurecki), 16:44 (EN). 6, Waterloo, Baker 1 (Erdman, Hong), 17:15. Penalties-Jurecki Oma (slashing), 0:29; Wattvil Oma (holding), 4:31; Bump Oma (slashing), 6:57; Beahm Oma (cross checking), 10:21; Baker Wat (slashing), 10:21; Baker Oma (roughing, misconduct-unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:25; D’Ancona Oma (roughing, misconduct-unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:25; Chaly Wat (roughing, misconduct-unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:25; Lindberg Wat (roughing, misconduct-unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:25; Jurecki Oma (tripping), 17:39.
Shots on Goal-Omaha 8-10-7-25. Waterloo 11-12-18-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Omaha 1 / 2; Waterloo 0 / 6.
Goalies-Omaha, Hrabal 2-0-1-1 (41 shots-39 saves). Waterloo, Croteau 2-3-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves).
A-1,876
Referees-David Lilly.
Linesmen-Zach Carson, Tyler Willie.
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