Rory Dynan’s goal with 1:10 left in regulation play gave the Gustavus men’s hockey team a 5-4 win over Hamline and pushed the Gusties (10-2-2, 22 points) back into first place in the MIAC by one-point over Hamline (10-3-1, 21 points). Josh Swartout registered 23 saves and picked up the win in goal for Gustavus.
After a scoreless first period, the Pipers took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Alex Lundbohm at 6:32 of the second period. The Gusties would strike back and score twice within two minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Joe Welch scored at the 8:04 mark and Matt Schugel lit the lamp at the 9:51 mark. The Pipers then tied the score on a power play goal by Kyle Kurr at the 12:37 mark, but then Gustavus got a goal from David Martinson with just 09 seconds left in the second period to give the Gusties a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.
The battle would continue in the third period as Lundbohn tied the score with his second goal of the game at the 7:44 mark, but two minutes later David Martinson gave Gustavus back the lead at 4-3 with his second goal of the game (9:37). With just over six minutes left to play Tayler Vichorek tied the score for the fourth time in the game when he beat Josh Swartout at the 13;56 mark.
Dynan registered the game-winner with just 90 seconds left to play allowing the Gusties to split the hard-fought series with the Pipers (losing 3-1 in St. Peter on Friday and winning 5-4 in St. Paul on Saturday).
Gustavus will face Saint Mary’s next weekend with the regular season conference title on the line. The two teams will play Friday night in St. Peter and Saturday night in Winona. Hamline will host Concordia on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.