Photo by Jake Przytarski Marshall’s Kaleb Welvaert fires a shot during their game against New Ulm on Thursday.

MARSHALL – The Marshall boys hockey team saw its two-goal lead slip away late in Thursday’s Big South Conference matchup with New Ulm as the visiting Eagles forced overtime with a third period equalizer before netting an overtime game-winner in a 3-2 final.

In the opening period, the Tigers were outshot 15-7 thanks in large part to three power play opportunities for the Eagles that included a five minute major. On the five minute man-advantage, New Ulm drew an additional penalty for delay of game that led to a penalty shot which was stopped by goaltender Dominik Caspers. Caspers finished the game with 34 saves on 37 shots, while the Marshall penalty kill finished the game a perfect 5-5.

Both of the Tigers’ goals in the loss came on the power play, starting with a first period tally by Tristan VanDeVere, who circled the net with a wraparound goal to give Marshall a 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard. The goal was VanDeVere’s second of the season.

In the final seconds of the first period, Marshall drew another minor penalty that provided nearly a full two-minute power play to begin the second period. The Tigers would need only 16 seconds after the puck was dropped to begin the period to add their final power play goal as Kaleb Welvaert buried his second of the season to extend Marshall’s lead to 2-0. The goal marked the fifth straight game that Welvaert has recorded a point.

Nearing the 11-minute mark of the second period, New Ulm broke through with an even strength goal off a rebound to make it 2-1 after having their previous 21 shots steered aside by Caspers. The Eagles would take the one-goal deficit into the third period where they struck again again with another goal to knot the game up at two apiece and force overtime.

In overtime, the Tigers nearly ended the game with multiple chances on the power play, but were unable to capitalize on their fourth man advantage attempt. When the New Ulm returned to even strength, Marshall continued to pressure the Eagles’ netminder but came up empty.

Nearing the end of the period, the Eagles created an odd-man rush that led to their game-winning goal at 5:17 of the extra period. The loss for Marshall moves them to 3-2 on the season.

The Tigers will be back on their home ice on Saturday with another crucial game against section foe Hutchinson at 2 p.m.