Lyon Townships scored twice in the final 30 seconds to grab a comeback win over St Charles Thursday in Western Springs. StC had one last chance to send the game into overtime, but the ball was checked away near the Lyons goal as time ran out.
The seesaw game had eight lead changes and several scoring runs. Lyons scored first, but two scores each by Conor Hamilton and CJ Nemec bracketing a Vince Frantz goal, gave StC a 5-3 lead at the first quarter.
StC looked ready to extend its lead as the second quarter began, as an illegal stick penalty would leave Lyons a man down for three minutes. But it was Lyons that poured in four straight scores, taking a 7-5 lead midway through the frame.
StC regrouped at that point, and its own offense went to work. Vince Frantz scored off a Dylan Ward feed, then Sean Brogan took a long Andy Forsell clear and unleashed a strong outside shot to tie the game with 5:40 left. Less than a minute later, Thomas Feicco outmaneuvered his man to grab a long clear from goalie Sean McGushin, rifled the ball to Dylan near the crease and Dylan put it in for the StC lead. A CJ Nemec score and Conor's third goal with 36 seconds on the clock gave StC a 10-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter began as the second had finished, with Dylan circling in from behind the goal to score again at 10:23. At that point, Lyons again went on a four-goal tear, knotting the game at 11-11 with 2:30 left in the quarter. A Dylan goal off CJ's pass with 7 seconds left put StC back in the the lead.
It was a lead which would hold up until midway through the fourth, when Lyons tied the game at 13-13. At 9:49, Vince had somehow found the net with two defenders and the goalie between him and paydirt, but LT scored at 8:29 and 7:15. Conor put StC up the final time with 5:31 to go, scooping up a ground ball, spinning and shooting from 10 feet away.
But with time nearly out and StC holding the 14-13 lead, the Lions scored at 0:27 after one of its middies charged nearly the entire length of the field. And then barely seven seconds later, LT took the faceoff and cut through the middle to score the winning goal.
St Charles next faces Neuqua Valley on April 26 in the St Charles East Stadium, and current no. 7 Hinsdale Central on April 28 at 5pm at the East Side Sports Complex.

Game stats

Dylan Ward goes airborne at the Lyons
Township goal. Dylan scored three times
against LT and set up another two scores
Photo by Beth Ward