The Cheverus/Yarmouth boys’ hockey team didn’t lead visiting Falmouth for a single second Thursday afternoon at Troubh Ice Arena.

But Stags still went home with a victory, as Brian Connolly scored midway through overtime to produce a 5-4 win.

Falmouth (4-6-1) led three times, but Cheverus (6-3) rallied repeatedly.

“It’s fun to play good hockey like that against a good team,” said Cheverus Coach Dave St. Pierre. “It was a fantastic and fun game.”

Falmouth struck first on an unassisted goal from Sean MacDonald at 5:42 of the first period. Just 28 seconds later, Truman Peters lifted the puck past Navigators goalie Chase Bevan to tie it.

After the Stags killed a penalty, it looked like the score would remain tied going into the break. But with 21 seconds to go, Falmouth’s Xavier Grenier set up Isaac Laliberte for a wrister in front that got past Neal McQuarrie (24 saves).

Cheverus almost tied it again, as Kevin Connolly appeared to score just as the horn sounded, but the goal was ruled too late.

Then the Navigators got some breathing room in the second period when John Carpenter scored from Rory Skillin-Lanou at 3:46.

After Bevan stymied promising bids from David Swift and Brian Connolly, Oliver Prinn cut the deficit to one at 10:32, scoring on a rebound, with Ethan St. Pierre and Matt Robichaud credited with assists.

Then, after Bevan denied Robichaud and twice made outstanding saves on Peters, Falmouth took its first penalty and Cheverus capitalized. With 1:01 left in the period, Colin Hines sent the puck toward the net and Kevin Connolly redirected it past Bevan to make it 3-3.

The Navigators regained the lead again when Mitch Ham scored at 3:38 of the third, but Cheverus drew even when Wyatt Header’s shot from the blue line snuck through at 6:52.

After Falmouth failed to score on a late power play, the game went to overtime. It ended when Brian Connolly tipped home Header’s shot at 4:07.

“I was just trying to get inside position and get a tip,” said Connolly. “I couldn’t see the puck go in, but it felt great.”

Bevan made 28 saves for the Navigators.

“It’s completely frustrating,” Falmouth Coach Deron Barton said of the loss. “We earned the lead, but we gave it back, then we earned it again and gave it back again, and it wears you down. We have a lot of inexperience and we have to take this as a learning experience.

“The hope is that we’ll turn the corner and make a nice run for the playoffs.”

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