Notables
-NCAA Division III-best ninth straight win
-Second straight win when trailing after two periods
-Williams with two third period goals
-Shots: CSS-44, FIN-22
-The Saints are now 7-1-0 at Mars Lakeview Arena this season
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica men's hockey team used another third period rally to defeat Finlandia University (Mich.) 4-3 Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena to extend its unbeaten run to 10 games.
The Action
Midway through the first period, the Saints had their first power play opportunity of the game, and were able to capitalize through
Davis Ross (Fort Frances, Ontario/Fort Frances HS (Fort Frances-SIJHL)) to make it 1-0 in favor of CSS.
Cole Golka (Ardrossan, Alberta/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Dryden Ice Dogs-SIJHL)) and
Jordan Fralich (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall School (Bismarck-NAHL)) added the assists. That marked the ninth straight game with a power-play goal. With two minutes remaining in the period, Finlandia (1-16-1, 0-10-1 NCHA) evened the score with a goal by Alex Rezansoff to make it 1-1 at the first intermission.
Shortly into the second period, the Lions took their first lead of the game off the power play. Paul Lochner had the goal for the Lions. Finlandia would retain its 2-1 lead for the rest of the period.
CSS came out strong to start the third period, racking up 10 shots in the first five minutes. The Saints finally capitalized on another power play opportunity to tie the game at 2-2 with 14 minutes remaining.
Sam Williams (Winnipeg, Manitoba/River East Collegiate (Melville-SJHL)) had the goal for the Saints and was assisted by
Mark Whiteley (Surrey, British Columbia/Holy Cross HS (Marian University)) and
Kyle Star (Langley, British, Columbia/Brookswood (Trail Smoke-BCHL)).
With just over seven minutes to play,
Brett Radford (Campbell River, British Columbia/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Canmore-AJHL)) gave the Saints the 3-2 lead with a slap shot off a face-off win by
Parker Mismash (Edina, Minn./Edina HS (Minnesota Magicians-NAHL)).
Sam Williams (Winnipeg, Manitoba/River East Collegiate (Melville-SJHL)) then added his second of the night to increase CSS' lead 4-2 with six minutes remaining.
Finlandia made it interesting late as Kendall Bolen-Porter scored with the extra-attacker and on a delayed penalty with under two minutes remaining to make it 4-3. The Saints were able to hang on the final 1:39 to win by a final of 4-3.
Goaltending
Nick Trenciansky (Vancouver, British Columbia/Holy Cross Regional HS (Kindersley-SJHL)) stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced in goal for the Saints to earn the win. Marcus Gloss saved 40 of 44 for the Lions.
Up Next
The Saints (12-5-1, 6-4-1 NCHA) welcome No. 1 St. Norbert College (Wis.) tomorrow at Mars Lakeview Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m.
