St. Mary's edges Churchill 5-4 in four OTs

David Goricki / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR — Luke Rodgers found himself all alone in front of Livonia Churchill's goal, slipping the puck past Alex Estes at 2:53 of the fourth overtime to lift Orchard Lake St. Mary's to a thrilling, 5-4 victory in a Division 1 state quarterfinal game Wednesday night at The Cube.

"You play for moments like this," Rodgers said of his sixth goal of the season. "The whole team played so hard tonight.

"I just happened to be the guy in that position. Matt Sweet gave me a great pass and I just knew I had to put it in. He (Estes) made a great save on me in one of the earlier overtimes. I felt he played really well."

St. Mary's (19-9) will play in Friday night's semifinal at Compuware Arena in Plymouth against East Kentwood. Churchill's season ended at 15-11-2.

It was an exciting, hard-hitting, fast-paced game with the teams having quality scoring chances throughout the night.

Alan Boozer scored twice, freshman Mitchell Vanderburg had a goal and assist and Cooper Anstett also scored for St. Mary's.

Senior captain Steven Klisz scored twice, and Riley Brown and Michael Rybinski had goals for Churchill.

Each team had a quality scoring chance in the first overtime with Vanderburg's shot from just left of the crease stopped by Estes, as was Michael Gambino's backhander from in front by St. Mary's goalie Drew Delke.

Delke came up with yet another big save on Gambino's slap shot off a faceoff in the second overtime. And, Estes somehow got a skate on the puck to knock away Rodgers' point-blank shot off a 2-on-1 rush with a minute left in the second OT.

St. Mary's needed a goal by Boozer with 3:52 left in regulation to force the overtime. Boozer also tied the game in the first, scoring off a pass from Ryan Foe.

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