ROYAL OAK >> Rochester United’s turnaround season finally game to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Livonia Stevenson Spartans in the Division 2 Quarterfinals Saturday night.

Dawson Wallis got the game-winner for Stevenson, ripping a slapper from the left circle home for a power play goal and giving the Spartans a 3-2 lead with 5:02 remaining in the third period.

The game was a back-and-forth affair on the scoreboard all night with Stevenson taking a one-goal lead three times, only to see Rochester United tie it twice.

Connor Buchanan scored twice for Stevenson, once in the first period and again in the third period.

But Rochester United had answers both times. Ethan Haselhuhn tied the game for Rochester United in the second period when he tipped in a point shot by Aidan Reder. After Stevenson had gone ahead early in the third period on Buchanan’s second goal, Rochester United tied the game again. United was awarded a power play, won the ensuing face-off, then got its power play set up for one of the few times all night. It quickly paid off when Reder passed the puck from the right point to Nolan Hizer, who was waiting just to the left of goal. Hizer quickly shoveled the puck into the net to make it 2-2 with 8:42 to play in the third period.

Overall, United proved a pesky bunch all night despite being outshot 45-17. Rochester United goalie Sam Kulasooriya made 42 saves in a stellar performance.

“We played well. Their goalie was outstanding. They had a good game plan against us. I was so impressed with how well they were coached and how well they do things. Film showed us that. We knew we’d have to keep coming, and we just got one at the end. Dawson Wallis made a play,” Spartans head coach David Mitchell said.

Defensively, United hustled all night and found ways to limit the quality of Stevenson’s opportunities, even if they could not always limit the quantity.

“Our structure was pretty good. Our first period, we came out a little flat. I think we were a little nervous with just everything there. It’s a young group with a lot of sophomores and juniors, so we were probably a little starstruck at the beginning. But that second period, I thought we settled in,” Rochester United head coach Tucker Penning said.

Rochester United struggled on the offensive end with their neutral zone breakouts at times, so while United was rarely pinned up for long stretches, they also struggled to convert their possession into quality chances of their own. This was especially the case on the power play where Rochester United was one-for-five, but largely failed to get set up on four of the five power plays they did have.

The loss puts an end to Rochester United’s turnaround season. After winning just five games last season, including one by forfeit, United finishes this season 20-7-1. They also graduate only two players and are set to return 21 players for next year.

“Give them (Stevenson) credit, obviously. They are a perennial power, and they capitalized on a couple one too many mistakes that we had,” Penning said. “But overall, you made it to a state quarterfinal and lose by a goal to a perennial power, if anything, it just makes you hungry for the next one. I couldn’t be prouder of that group of boys.”

He added that, “We’re going to take it on the chin. But we’ll be better for it, and I think the program will be better for it for the foreseeable future.”

Livonia Stevenson (17-6-1) advances to Thursday’s semifinals where it will face Birmingham Brother Rice.