UTICA, N.Y. — A disputed no-goal call late in the third period halted a furious comeback attempt by Aurora, as Hamilton won 6-3 in the NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey Frozen Four on Friday.

With the Spartans trailing 4-3 and 4:41 remaining in the game, Chase Broda appeared to net the equalizer for Aurora. On-ice officials immediately waved off the shot, and the call stood following a lengthy video review, leaving Aurora unable to tie the game.

The Continentals (22-5-2) used the late momentum shift to secure the win with two empty-net goals in the final two minutes of play. Hamilton’s Justin Biraben and Noah Leibl each scored twice in the contest, while Ben Zimmerman buried the second-period game-winner.

The loss ended a historic season for the Spartans (25-6-1), who set a program record for victories and made their first appearance in the Frozen Four.

Hamilton opened the scoring 5:03 into the first period when Luke Tchor capitalized on a power play. Leibl extended the Continentals' lead to 2-0 before the first intermission with an even-strength tally.

The Spartans cut the lead in half early in the second period when Lukas Sedlacek scored the first Frozen Four goal in program history off passes from Jakson Kirk and Chayce Schmidt. However, Hamilton answered with goals from Biraben and Zimmerman late in the period to push the lead to 4-1.

Aurora stormed back in the third period. Kirk found the net at the 6:54 mark, and Landry Schmuck pulled the Spartans within a single goal just 54 seconds later to make it 4-3. The Spartans continued to press for the equalizer until the controversial review on Broda's shot. Following the upheld no-goal call, Aurora pulled goaltender Matt O'Donnell for an extra attacker, but Biraben and Leibl scored into the empty net to seal the victory for Hamilton.

Hamilton finished the game 2-for-2 on the power play, while Aurora went 0-for-1. Reid made 35 saves in the win for the Continentals, while O'Donnell stopped 25 shots for the Spartans.