MIDDLETON, Wis. – The reward for controlling much of the game turned out to be a disappointing state tournament exit for Somerset/St. Croix Falls.

The Spartans led 2-1 early in third period, only to see second-seeded Northland Pines get a game-tying penalty shot and then punch in the winner with 24 seconds remaining for a 3-2 victory Thursday in the Division 2 semifinals of the Wisconsin boys state hockey tournament.

It was the second consecutive state semifinal loss for Somerset/St. Croix Falls (17-11). Northland Pines (21-6) advances to Saturday’s title game against fourth-seeded Amery (20-8), which upset top-seeded Waunakee 3-1 in the opening semifinal.

Over the final two periods, the third-seeded Spartans outshot Northland Pines 27-8, but were stymied by Eagles goalie Evrett Leslie, who finished with 33 saves.

“The first period, we had to kill off a lot of penalties. I thought we did a pretty good job of that,” said Spartans coach Dan Gilkerson. “And then I think we dominated the second and third periods, to be honest.”

After a scoreless second period in which the Spartans outshot the Eagles 13-3, Josh Albert put Somerset/St. Croix Falls in front 2-1 three minutes into the period, gathering a pass in the slot and sending it home lower right.

High-scoring Josh Graves, who had Northland Pines’ first goal, shook loose on a breakaway, but Dominick Warner was called for tripping, resulting in a penalty shot. Graves went left-right in front of the net and backhanded it past Carson Belisle to tie it 2-all with 9:17 remaining.

“I honestly did not agree with the call, just the angle our guy was coming at,” Gilkerson said. “I get the tripping penalty, but I don’t think it was like a clear breakaway.”

The Spartans stayed on the attack, but failed to capitalize on the continued pressure.

“It’s frustrating for sure, knowing the season’s on the line,” Albert said. “We’re just doing what we can to get one in there, and throwing them on the net. A couple times there I thought one of them was going to go in for sure.”

With time running out, the Eagles dug the puck out of the right corner and fed Cooper Saari, who buried it from the right circle.

The teams swapped power-play goals for a 1-all tie after one period, in which the Spartans were penalized four times.

Graves put Northland Pines up 1-0 with 7:06 remaining in the period, pushing it up the left side, slipping inside a defender and slotting it into the far side to finish the breakaway.

Blake Thiel brought the Spartans even with one minute left in the period, gathering a pass from the left side directly in front of the crease and punching it past goalie Evrett Leslie just 22 seconds into the power play.

Somerset dominated much of the second period but was unable add on despite outshooting Northland Pines 13-3.

“He is an absolute luxury to have back there,” Northland Pines coach Zach Otto said of Leslie. “And to be able to have the confidence that he always shows up to do the job. In my estimation, he’s the best goalie in the state.”

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