Defenceman Skylar Pacheco scored the game-winning goal and the Brock Badgers staved off elimination with a 3-2 against the Western Mustangs in London, Ontario on Friday.

The Badgers even the OUA West semifinal best-of-three series 1-1 to force Game 3 at home.

Brock hosts the series final on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Seymour-Hannah Arena. Puck drop is 7 p.m.

Tickets are available here.

"This win feels great," said head coach Marty Williamson. "The boys battled hard all night. It wasn't pretty, but it was a hell of a win."

After dropping Game 1 at home by a score of 3-2, the situation looked bleak for Brock as Western opened Friday's contest with a goal at the 6:43 mark of the first period.

Blueliner Ethan Spaxman tied the game up with a power-play goal later in the frame.

"The game was tight all over the ice," said Williamson. "Both teams played tough, and there was no room to move."

Frankie Pucci blasted home a goal with the man advantage to give Brock the lead midway through the second before Western tied it up in the third courtesy of Ray Huether's second marker of the game.

The puck flew out of the corner and defenceman Connor Walters quickly passed it over to Pacheco, who rifled the puck through traffic for the game winner.

Tyler Rollo, Jared Marino, Cosimo Fontana, Ayden MacDonald, Connor Brown and Walters were each credited with an assist.

The Mustangs outshot the Badgers 44-27 as goalie Logan Thompson made 42 saves.