South Burlington — The CVU Redhawks scored three goals in the third period and topped the Colchester Lakers 3-1 in VPA Division One State tournament action on Wednesday night inside Cairns Arena.

The two clubs battled through two scoreless periods with the Redhawks outshooting the Lakers 18-8. CVU went 0-2 on a pair of second period powerplays while CHS failed on its lone ma up chance in the first.

But the cover came off the nets in the final period. CVU took the lead at 1:23 when Tyler Brooks’ lifted a shot into the top of the net on their third powerplay chance .

But the lead lasted only a little over four minutes. The Lakers, who had been shutout three times in three previous meetings with the Redhawks, finally broke through and tied the game at 5:39 when Tate Hamblett, racing down the right wing,  fired a low shot just inside the far post.

But CVU struck quickly in response. A minute and a half later Joe Parento fired a shot that was was stopped the CHS goalkeeper Jake Rocheleau, but as he sprawled across the crease the puck bounced off the keeper into the cage.

Leading 2-1 CVU took a late penalty and CHS pulled Rocheleau for the extra attacker and a two man advantage. But Owen McCuin broke up the right wing, avoided a pair of defenders and deposited the game clinching goal into the empty net with six seconds left.

Blaine Moore made 14 saves in earning the win for the Redhawks. Rocheleau stopped 23 shots in the loss for Colchester.

With the win CVU, now 9-7-5 on the season, moves on to play at Essex next week in the semi-finals. The loss ends the Lakers season at 4-15-2.