Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:39 am

ROCHESTER - The Northfield boys hockey team gave Rochester Lourdes all it could handle Thursday night, but ultimately lost 2-1 in the Section 1A Quarterfinals at Graham Arena.

Lourdes took a 1-0 lead in the third, scoring with nine minutes left. Kody Beckers answered for the Raiders with a power-play goal with two minutes remaining, tying the game 1-1 late.

Lourdes freshman Jason Samuelson was the hero for the Eagles, scoring with 48 seconds left in regulation when he won a battle for the puck in front of of goalie Nate Finger and scored on a second effort.

Lourdes out-shot Northfield 29-15 in the game. Finger finished with 27 saves. The Raiders pulled Finger in the closing seconds and had at least five quality scoring chances. Alex Pumper hit a post with seven seconds left, and NHS fell short.

"We were confident that we could win the game. Lourdes was a much better team than earlier this season. We did everything we possibly could," said NHS coach Bryce Barry. "It was just a great section hockey game."

It was also the end of a rough week for Barry, who missed Tuesday night's win over Waseca due to illness. The early fear was appendicitis, but it was left as either a case of the stomach flu or food poisoning.

"I lost 16 pounds in about two days," Barry said. "It was just awful, but I'm feeling better now."

With the win, No. 2-seeded Lourdes avenged a 3-0 loss at Northfield earlier this season and advanced to the Section 1A semifinals, where it will play No. 3-seeded New Prague. In the other semifinals, Red Wing beat Albert Lea 5-2 and Faribault cruise past Mankato East 12-1. Red Wing and Faribault will play in the other semifinal on Saturday.

Northfield's season ends with a 9-15-2 record. The Raiders had six wins two seasons ago.

"I just told them I was proud of them. They never gave up and worked hard all season," Barry said. "As hard as it is, it was a great way to go out."