DULUTH, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men's hockey team battled the College of Saint Scholastica Saints on the road Saturday night in game two of their weekend conference series, falling 4-3 to split the series following their 4-0 win on Friday night.
Jack Anderson put Gustavus up 1-0 just six minutes into the game with his third goal of the season.
Nate Stone and
Riku Brown assisted on the goal.
St. Scholastica answered back in the second period, scoring the lone goal of the second frame in the 14th minute to tie the game up at 1-1.
After just one goal per period through the first two frames, the two teams exploded to score five combined goals in the third. The Saints scored twice within a 52-second span early in the third period to take a 3-1 lead.
Sam Rice capitalized on a power play opportunity in the eight minute of the final period to end St. Scholastica's 3-0 run in goals scored and cut the Saints lead in half, down to just one goal trailing 3-2.
Ludvig Mellgren and
Kyle Doll assisted Rice with the goal; his ninth of the season.
Mellgren then scored a power play goal of his own just three minutes later, tying the game up at 3-3 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Rice and Anderson assisted Mellgren with the equalizer. The goal was Mellgren's seventh of the season.
The Saints were able to take advantage of a power play opportunity with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, scoring to go up 4-3. St. Scholastica's defense held the rest of the way to secure the win over the Gusties.
The loss dropped Gustavus from second to third in the MIAC standings with two games to go in the regular season. The Gusties have 27 points heading into the final weekend, trailing Saint John's (29) and Saint Mary's (30) while holding a narrow lead over Bethel (26) and St. Olaf (24).
Up next for Gustavus is a two-game weekend series against the Hamline University Pipers, starting at home next Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Don Roberts Ice Rink as the Gusties celebrate their Senior Night.
