With 20 seconds left in overtime, tied at 3-3, sophomore blueliner Griffin Ludtke ripped home his third goal of the campaign from the high slot to send the Mavericks to the Desert Hockey Classic championship game.

The Mavericks overcame a pair of one-goal deficits to defeat the UMass Lowell River Hawks and improve to 10-5-2. Omaha found themselves down 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes. Junior forward Zach Urdahl netted the equalizer just 2:18 into the 2^nd period. It's Urdahl's first game back since the first period of the November 18 game against Denver.

The River Hawks would go on to answer with 8:08 left in the middle frame to regain the lead at 2-1. Trailing after 40 minutes of hockey, New York Rangers draft pick Victor Mancini made a great play stepping up in the neutral zone, intercepting a pass and taking it in all alone to bury the game tying goal with 14:19 left in regulation. Mancini's unassisted lamplighter is his third of the season.

1:56 later, Jimmy Glynn tipped a Noah Ellis pass bar-down on the power play to take their first lead of the night. The third Maverick goal was also assisted by Jesse Lansdell. 1:53 later, Lowell would answer with their own power play goal to even things at 3-3, where they would remain for the rest of regulation.

Omaha improves to 4-0-2 in overtime games and 8-0-0 in one score contests. Tonight's victory also marks the first time this season Omaha has come away with a win after trailing after two periods. Lastly, the Mavericks move to 9-1-2 when outshooting opponents. The final shot count was 36-25.

Omaha netminder Simon Latkoczy secured his seventh victory of the season making 22 saves tonight, including nine in the third period.

The Mavericks await their opponent for tomorrow's Desert Hockey Classic final. They will face the winner of the Arizona State vs. Harvard matchup. Puck drop is still to be determined.