By RYAN STIEG

Journal Sports Writer

MARQUETTE – Late in the third period Saturday, it appeared as if the Marquette Iron Rangers were going to get a big hockey win at home.

Despite being heavily outshot, the Iron Rangers were up 6-3 on the GLHL’s top team, the West Bend Bombers. However, things quickly unraveled after that.

The Bombers lived up to their namesake, slamming five straight goals past Marquette in the closing minutes to earn a 8-6 win.

Iron Rangers goalie Mike Niday made 49 saves in the loss.

“It was just a big breakdown defensively,” Niday said. “We were all pretty tired at the end and we just couldn’t hang on. We started making mistakes and let a lot of shots come at us. We just couldn’t finish.”

After Marquette took a 6-3 lead on Dallas McLaughlin’s second goal of the night, West Bend bounced back on a tally by Joe Lampman at the 13:42 mark.

At 15:19, Bomber Russell Johnson took advantage of a power play and tapped a rebound past Niday, who had just made a sprawling save.

Less than a minute later, R.J. Rick sniped a high shot under the crossbar to tie the game at 6-6.

Marquette had an opportunity to take the lead late as West Bend was whistled for tripping, but the Iron Rangers ended up giving on a shorthanded goal to Shae Klitzke. He got a cross-ice past in front of the crease and lifted it over Niday’s shoulder.

Johnson then clinched the game with an empty netter with one second left in the game.

The first period was a tight one, with both teams deadlocked at 1-1. West Bend scored quickly, but Marquette tied it on a deflection in front.

The second period was dominated by Marquette. Ryan Daust gave the Iron Rangers their first lead with a backhand goal and midway through, then Todd Cooper padded the advantage to two goals by going top shelf on West Bend goalie Bill Sias.

After West Bend cut its deficit to one goal, the Iron Rangers went high again on Sias and took a 4-2 lead into the break.

“The first two periods, we started off really good,” Niday said. “We were picking up guys on defense, stopping their plays, checking hard.

“We were doing good things with our outlet passes in the corners and finding guys across the middle or down low. We also got some nice rebounds. Then the third period happened.”

The Iron Rangers continued their strong play into the third as McLaughlin scored twice on transition goals, but they couldn’t close out the win.

Marquette wraps up its regular season Mar. 19 on the road against the Monroe Blues (Wis.).

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.