CHARLOTTE MOUNTS COMEBACK, IOWA LOSES 5-4 IN OVERTIME
Nov 1, 2026DES MOINES, Iowa – The Charlotte Checkers scored twice in the third period and Gracyn Sawchyn netted the winner 3:13 into overtime to send the Iowa Wild to a 5-4 loss at Casey's Center on Sunday afternoon.
Caedan Bankier opened the scoring 6:02 into the game when he backhanded the rebound of Riley Heidt's centering feed past Kirill Gerasimyuk (seven saves). Riley Mercer (35 saves) picked up a secondary assist on the game's first goal.
Dylan Gambrell forced a neutral zone turnover while shorthanded and snapped a shot past the right pad of Gerasimyuk to double Iowa's lead 2:18 later.
Mitchell Vande Sompel pulled Charlotte back within one goal when he collected a rebound off the end wall and deposited the puck into an open net.
Justin Kirkland chased Gerasimyuk 34 seconds into the middle frame with a goal from the half wall on a delayed penalty. Hunter Haight and Jack Peart earned assists on Kirkland's goal.
The Checkers made the score 3-2 when Alex Petrovic snuck a shot under Mercer from the left circle at 9:46 of the second period.
Iowa restored the two-goal lead at 14:05. Jagger Joshua and Carson Lambos combined to spring Bradley Marek across the blue line, who ripped a shot off the crossbar and in behind Tyler Muszelik (nine saves).
Charlotte began its comeback at 13:27 of the third period when Jack Devine jumped on a loose puck and slid it past Mercer.
Nate Smith chipped a rebound over Mercer with 49 seconds remaining to tie the game at 4-4 and force overtime.
Sawchyn secured the extra point for Charlotte on the power play with 1:47 left in overtime.
Iowa hosts the Rockford IceHogs on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. for the Wild About Education School Day Game presented by MidAmerican Energy.
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