Two losses in a row is pretty bad, but losing those games two days in a row by just one goal to the team right above you in the standings, that just plain hurts.

The Milwaukee Wave lost 8-7 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday by the St. Louis Steamers in St. Louis and in Milwaukee.

On Saturday, the Wave lost in overtime in St. Louis, Mo., after a goal by Michael Apple of the Steamers beat Wave goaltender Brian Rowland with only 13 seconds remaining in regulation and St. Louis later added a goal in overtime.

The game was very evenly matched. Both teams traded goals and the Steamers could only hold a two-goal lead for a couple minutes before Milwaukee’s Greg Howes put in two goals within 18 seconds to knot the score at 3.

Not only did Howes score two or more goals, but Matt Schmidt scored his third goal, netting him a hat trick in the fourth quarter. However, St. Louis would spoil his special day by tying the score back up at 6.

After Milwaukee made the score 7-6 with a little over a minute remaining, the Steamers needed a miracle to win and they got it from Apple, who’s foot beat Rowland with 13 seconds remaining to tie things up at 7.

The Steamers had the confidence in overtime and added the game winner for the final mark of 8-7.

On Sunday, the way looked to rebound. The loss on Saturday put them 3.5 games out of first place behind St. Louis. They would be playing at home and needed a win but again lost by one goal, 7-6 in Milwaukee.

Unlike Saturday, this game took on a lot slower pace. The first quarter only saw one goal and it was by St. Louis’ Jamar Beasley to make the score 1-0 going into the second.

In the second quarter, a scoring flurry by both teams would take place. Five goals were added, two by the Wave and three by the Steamers. After two quarters the Steamers were still in total control with a 4-2 lead.

As the second half commenced, penalties messed up the game. St. Louis was caught with too many men on the playing surface and Howes was awarded a penalty kick at the 6:48 mark of the third quarter. He hit the penalty kick to get the Wave closer at 4-3.

The Steamers stroked back with a power play goal but the Wave added three unanswered goals to gain its first lead at 6-5.

With only 10 seconds left in the third quarter St. Louis tied the score at 6. When the fourth quarter came, no team was willing to break until the Wave let in the last and final goal when Apple recorded his second goal of the game.

The Steamrollers won the regular season crown and clinched first place in the MISL playoffs. The Wave is still holding on to the second seed.

The Wave plays two road games this weekend versus Chicago on Saturday and St. Louis again on Sunday.

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