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West's Jeff Yateman scored with 3:21 left on the clock in overtime as the Panthers earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over Swartz Creek on Saturday night at the Polar Palace.

With the win, West is now tied with the season-long Metro League leader Dragons at 10-2 with two league games remaining for both teams.

According to West coach Todd York, this was game that his team had been working for.

"We were looking forward to the opportunity to play for a share of first place," York said. "The players really stepped up and were determined to win. Even after Swartz Creek scored the tying goal with just over a minute to play.

"The players did not get down."

West led 3-2 after a Casey Cook goal with 13:30 left put the Panthers on top of the Dragons. But a Creek goal from the stick of Brock Veenhuis tied the game up and sent it into overtime.

"They just kept playing with confidence," York said. "We controlled the game in the extra period. They just knew that they could not end the night without a win.

"They were determined to score a goal and earn the victory."

On the winning goal, Yateman took the puck from Jeremy Podgorski near the left boards in the Dragons' zone. Yateman moved the puck to the bottom of the left circle and buried the shot past Swartz Creek goalie Kirk Allen.

The winning goal now gives West a chance to claim their first Metro League title in four years. Swartz Creek had an opportunity to win its first FML title since 1974-75, but now has some work to do in its final two league games in order to do that.

"All the credit goes to the kids for their effort and perseverance," York said.