Game One: Friday, November 21st:
DULUTH, Minn. –- The Saint Scholastica men's hockey team opened their MIAC weekend series against Augsburg University on Friday evening. The Saints ultimately lost 4-1, despite entering the third period tied 1-1 after a second period goal from Gavin Gunderson (Roseau, MN/Roseau HS).
After an evenly played first period, Augsburg broke the scoreless tie with a goal at 6:15 of the second period. CSS responded late in the frame with an equalizer from Gunderson at 19:04, assisted by
Braden Junker (Elk River, MN/Elk River HS), sending the game into the third tied at 1-1.
The final period was all Auggies in game one. Augsburg tallied three unanswered goals: two power play tallies at 6:34 and 11:57, followed by an empty-netter at 18:35, to secure the 4-1 victory.
CSS outshot Augsburg 33-29, with
Andrew Cumming (St. Cloud, MN/St. Cloud HS),
Daniel Kroon (Calgary, Canada/),
Braden Panzer (Grand Forks, ND/Grand Forks Central HS), and
Wyatt Wurst (Edina, MN/Edina HS) each registering four shots. CSS goaltender
Eino Rissanen (Sonvillier, Switzerland/Lycée Blaise-Cendrars) had 24 saves for an .889 save percentage.
Game Two: Saturday, November 22nd
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Saint Scholastica bounced back in a big way in game two on Saturday evening. CSS scored four unanswered goals to earn a 4-1 road victory and split the series with Augsburg.
Augsburg opened the scoring at 8:22 of the first, but the Saints took over in the second frame.
Riley Girod (Calvet, SK, Canada/) evened the score at 1:27 of the second, assisted by Panzer and Kroon. Later in the period, W. Wurst gave CSS the lead at 13:04 with assists from
Evan Pahos (Parker, CO/) and Cumming.
The Saints sealed the win with two goals 16 seconds apart in the third, both scores coming from first-year players netting their first career goals.
Tyric Kennett (Red Lake Falls, MN/Lafayette HS) scored at 13:22 with an assist from
Emmett Wurst (Edina, MN/Edina HS), and shortly after,
Daniel Kroon (Calgary, Canada/) added an unassisted goal at 13:38, earning himself a two-point night, and extending the CSS lead to 4-1.
Despite being outshot 12-4 in the third period, Rissanen held strong and delivered a 28 save performance in game two with a .966 save percentage. W. Wurst once again led the Saints with six shots on goal.
Up Next:
The Saints (3-3-1, 1-2-1 MIAC) turn their attention to the Superior Showdown next weekend, a tournament they won last season. They open play on Friday, November 28th against Lawrence University. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. at Wessman Arena in Superior.
