Kent Patterson made 43 saves to backstop the host RoughRiders to a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Lincoln Stars Saturday night.

Patterson was busy throughout the night, making at least 14 saves in each period and keeping the Riders going until Cedar Rapids jumped in front early in the third period.

The Riders turned a 1-1 deadlock into a 3-1 lead with a pair of goals early in the third. Just 1:20 into the period Ian Slater one-timed Aaron Bogosian’s centering pass past Lincoln goaltender Jon Morrow. At the 5:46 mark of the third the Riders were on the power play when Mike Seidel’s wraparound goal gave Cedar Rapids a two goal lead.

Seidel’s goal stood up as the game winner after Carter Camper’s second goal of the game brought Lincoln back within one with just 2:24 left in regulation. Carter shoveled the rebound in after Patterson stopped his initial bid.

The drama was ratcheted up even further when the Stars’ Steve Schultz was awarded a penalty shot less than half a minute later. Patterson, however, forced Schultz to shoot too high and the Riders hung despite more late Lincoln pressure.

Just as they finished the night with a flurry, the Stars also started the game strong. Camper buried a rebound just 39 seconds into the contest to give Lincoln a 1-0 lead.

The Riders bounced back quickly as Tyler Thompson scored from close range off a give-and-go with Casey Wellman to even the score at one at 4:49 of the first period.