No. 1 seed Totino-Grace used a two-goal third period and an overtime winner to comeback and defeat No. 2 Mahtomedi 5-4 in the Section 4A final.

Carter Lyons tipped in the game-winning goal in overtime as the Eagles defeated the Zephyrs in the Section 4A playoffs for the third straight year – this time in the final.

Lyons a senior defender knocked a deflection into the net under Mahtomedi goalie Thomas Hennen to send Totino-Grace to state.

“Our gameplan was to throw pucks on net,” Lyons said, “and that’s exactly what we did.”

The win was not an easy one for the Eagles, however, as Mahtomedi – who defeated the Eagles 4-3 earlier this year – gained a two-goal lead and forced Totino-Grace to make a comeback.

Joey Brey and Ben Henderson gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the first period in which shots were even at 12-12.

Mahtomedi’s offense exploded in the second as they scored three unanswered to take a 4-2 lead.

“We were disappointed,” said Totino-Grace head coach Mark Loahr, “but we couldn’t give up. Not one guy in the locker room believed the game was over.”

The Eagles proved the game was not over in the third period.

Kai Barber scored on the power play and Lyons tied it on a blue line blast to force what would be a big-time overtime battle.

The attack was even in the extra period until Chandler Nauman fired one from the blueline and Lyons was there to deflect it in.

“It was an unreal feeling when it went in,” said Nauman, a senior, “It feels awesome to represent Totino-Grace.”

This is the third straight year the Eagles have eliminated the Zephyrs in the Section 4A playoffs. The past two seasons it was in the semifinals.

“They play at a high level so we knew we had to up our game,” said Barber.

When asked what his team has to do in the state tournament, Loahr said, “We will take what we get. We are glad to be there.”