Notables
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A total of five power-play goals were scored
-CSS' non-conference win streak ends at 10 games
-Saints lose at home for the first time this season
-SOG: CSS-37, AU-34.
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The No. 10 St. Scholastica men's hockey team had its nine-game unbeaten streak snapped by No. 5 Augsburg University on Saturday when it fell 6-3 at Mars Lakeview Arena.
The Scoring
The Saints gave up two penalties in the first five minutes of the game, but they were able to kill both successfully. Seven minutes in, it would be the Auggies (10-1-2) who would give up a power-play opportunity and CSS was able to capitalize.
13 seconds into the power play,
Jordan Fralich (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall School (Bismarck-NAHL)) and
Carson Rose (Surrey, British Columbia/Elgin Park Secondary (Weyburn-SJHL)) set up
Michael Talbot (Anoka, Minn./Anoka HS (Minot-NAHL)), who re-directed Fralich's shot to give the Saints a 1-0 lead with 12:25 to go in the period.
After Rose hit the pipe moments later, the Auggies were able to respond, scoring an even-strength goal to tie the game at 1-1. But with 1:12 to go in the period,
Cole Golka (Ardrossan, Alberta/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Dryden Ice Dogs-SIJHL)) scored to restore CSS' lead and make it 2-1 in favor of the Saints.
Nate Pionk (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS (Minot-NAHL)) and
Parker Mismash (Edina, Minn./Edina HS (Minnesota Magicians-NAHL)) were credited with the assists.
In the second period, the game turned when the Saints were given a five-minute major with 13:58 to go in the period. Augsburg was able to score twice during the major, to make it 3-2 in favor of the Auggies, and it would be the first time CSS would trail all season.
Then with 3:56 left to go in the period, the Auggies scored again to increase their lead to 4-2. With 15 seconds remaining in the period, the Auggies added another to make it 5-2. The Saints were out-shot 29-16 thru two periods.
The Saints piled on the pressure in the third, out-shooting the Auggies 21-5. CSS was able to pull one back with 11:46 to go to make it 5-3.
Sam Fuss (Edina, Minn./Edina HS (Minot-NAHL)) had the goal with Fralich and Talbot with the assists.
CSS pulled its goalie with 2:20 remaining in the game, but were not able to capitalize on the extra skater. And Augsburg was able to score on the empty net to finish the game 6-3 in favor of the Auggies.
Top Performances for the Saints
Fralich had a pair of assists while Talbot had a goal and an assist.
Nick Trenciansky (Vancouver, British Columbia/Holy Cross Regional HS (Kindersley-SJHL)) stopped 24 of the 29 shots he saw in the first two periods in net.
Zane Steeves (Red Deer, Alberta/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (100 Mile Wranglers-KIJHL)) relieved Trenciansky in the third and stopped all four shots he saw.
Top Performances for the Auggies
Four Auggies each recorded a goal and an assist; Eric Brenk, Lukas Gillett, Luke Dietsch, and Chandler Madry.
Nick Schmit stopped 34 of the 37 he faced in net for Augsburg.
Up Next
The Saints (8-2-1) return to action on Saturday, December 29 to compete in the Superior Showdown. They will take on Marian University (Wis.) at 5 p.m. and then face either the host, University of Wisconsin-Superior or Trinity College (Conn.) the following day.
