Box Score Box score
Fresh from a stellar showing against the No. 3 team in the country at Plattsburgh State's Cardinal Classic last weekend, the Saints had high hopes entering a home weekend, one that began with Friday night's non-conference match-up against visiting Gustavus Adolphus College.
The Mars Lakeview ice sheet appeared to be tilted downhill toward the Gustie's net over the opening eight minutes of action with several odd-man rushes and just general hustle and play that had Gustavus on their heels.
A.J. Tucker put the Saints up 1-0 at 7:16 into the first with his ninth goal of the year, but the ice began to shift after that, from even for both teams to eventually downhill toward the Saints net, though.
Less than three minutes after Tucker's score, Gustavus' Joe Welch scored the first of three goals on the night. And from there, St. Scholastica's high hopes fell with a thud.
After Gustavus had pulled ahead 3-1 in the second period, St. Scholastica's Jordan Chong (North Vancouver, British Columbia/Dryden (SIJHL)) rattled the cage by cutting the lead in half at the 12:26 mark but GAC wrested momentum right back with a score only 10 seconds later to once again double their lead.
By the end of the second stanza, Gustavus led the blue and gold by a 6-2 score.
The Saints have come back before in the third period, though, and Dustin DeGagne (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Salmon Arm (BCHL)) tried to get St. Scholastica rolling early in the third with a slap shot from high atop the right circle that found the back of the net for his first goal as a Saint.
Gustavus (7-7-0), however, held firm on defense the rest of the way and netted two more scores to pull out the win and end their three game losing streak with an 8-3 victory over the Saints (5-9-2).
Steve Bounds (Airdrie, Alberta/Powell River (BCHL)) started in goal for St. Scholastica but, after surrendering five goals on 23 shots, was lifted for Tyler Johnson (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks HS) 13:36 into the second period.
Bounds had been in net for eight straight games for the Saints and played so well at the Plattsburgh tournament that he was named the all-tournament team's goalie, but this was just not his night.
Johnson, seeing his first action since November 17, 2007, didn't fare much better, giving up a goal on the first shot he faced, and finishing with six saves on the nine shots he faced.
Jordan Baird (Port McNeill, British Columbia/Victoria (BCHL)), Joey Hughes (Springvale South, Australia/Cowichan Valley (BCHL)), Kyle Luschinski (Headingley, Manitoba/Waywayseecappo (MJHL)), Chris Meagher (Victoria, British Columbia/Brooks (AJHL)), and Rob Rodgers (Salmon Arm, British Columbia/Salmon Arm (BCHL)) registered assists in the loss for the Saints.
Next up for the Saints will be a visit from St. Olaf College on Saturday night. The Oles dropped a 4-1 decision to Wis.-Superior on Friday night.
