STORRS, Conn. – The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team’s season ended in overtime again.

Tom Janosz scored 11 minutes, 41 seconds into overtime, handed the Lakers a 4-3 loss to Connecticut in Game 2 of their Atlantic Hockey Association series at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday night.

Janosz’s first goal of the season ended the Lakers’ season a year after a double-overtime goal eliminated the Lakers in Game 2 of a quarterfinal series against Canisius.

On this night, the Lakers (15-18-4) answered UConn’s three-goal second period, which broke open a scoreless tie, with three goals in a 6-minute span of the third period. Nate Jensen’s second goal of the season, scored on the power play sparked the comeback  6:09 into the period.

Scott Pitt moved the Lakers within a goal 18 seconds later. Then Mike Gurtler’s power-play goal completed the comeback with 7:49 left in regulation. Along the way, backup goaltender Max Strang stopped the first 11 shots he faced in relief of Erie native Ryan Zapolski.

Zapolski was pulled after allowing three goals in a 3-minute span late in the second. But Strang couldn’t stop Janosz on the game’s final shot. Mercyhurst outshot UConn 56-32 in the game. But Huskies goaltender Garrett Bartus made 53 saves.

Pitt had a goal and assist for the Lakers. Steve Bergin, Cole Schneider and Billy Latta each scored for the Huskies (15-17-4), which advance to the semifinals on Friday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.

- Victor Fernandes

Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament schedule

Quarterfinals (best-of-three series)

Game 2 – Saturday

No. 4 Connecticut 4, No. 5 Mercyhurst 3, OT (UConn wins series 2-0)

No. 6 Canisius 3, No. 3 Holy Cross 2, OT (Series tied 1-1)

No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology 5, No. 8 American International 1 (RIT wins series 2-0)

No. 2 Air Force 4, No. 7 Sacred Heart 0 (Air Force wins series 2-0)

Note: Game 3 of each series, if necessary, is set for Sunday (same start times)

Game 3 – Sunday

Canisius (13-18-6) at Holy Cross (16-15-5), 7:05 p.m.

Semifinals – March 18

at Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, N.Y.

No. 1 RIT (18-10-8) vs. lowest remaining seed, 4:05 p.m.

No. 2 Air Force (18-11-6) vs. highest remaining seed, 60 minutes after completion of Game 1

Championship game – March 19

at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.

Semifinal winners, 7:05 p.m.

SUMMARY

Connecticut 4, Mercyhurst 3 (OT)

Mercyhurst  0  0  3  0  —  3

Connecticut  0  3  0  1  —  4

1^st Period — None. Penalties — Sims (C) boarding, :30; Pitt (M) interference, 13:58; Krispel (C) slashing, 19:02.

2^nd Period — 1. Connecticut, Steve Bergin 3 (Krispel, Ambrosie), 12:30. 2. Connecticut, Cole Schneider 12 (Ranallo), 13:39. 3. Connecticut, Billy Latta 11 (Cooper, Winter), 15:34. Penalties — Raven (M) roughing, 1:55; Schneider (C) cross checking, 6:32; Terminesi (M) roughing, 11:38; Harris (C) roughing, 11:38; Blakey (M) 5-min. major, 16:47; Ranallo (C) high sticking, 17:50; Cooper (C) high sticking, 18:54.

3^rd Period — 4. Mercyhurst, Nate Jensen 2 (Chiasson, Pitt), 6:09 (pp). 5. Mercyhurst, Scott Pitt 19 (Goebel, Holstrom), 6:27. 6. Mercyhurst, Mike Gurtler 10 (Blakey), 12:11. Penalties — Carkin (M) cross checking, 2:02; O’Donoghue (M) hitting after whistle, 2:02; Olson (C) hitting after whistle, 2:02; Janosz (C) holding, 6:01; Sapieha (C) tripping, 10:33.

Overtime — 7. Connecticut, Tom Janosz 1 (Ambrosie), 11:41. Penalties — None.

Shots on goal — Mercyhurst, 14-16-19-7—56; Connecticut, 9-11-4-8—32.

Goaltenders — Mercyhurst, Ryan Zapolski (20 shots, 17 saves), Max Strang 2-1-0 (12 shots, 11 saves); Connecticut, Garrett Bartus 14-14-4 (56 shots, 53 saves).

Power plays — Mercyhurst (2-6), Connecticut (0-4).

Referees — James Troup, Shayne Ferrier. Linesmen — Brendan Blanchard, Bryan Goodwin.

Attendance — 157.