Matt Schugel clears out the front of the goal so Josh Swartout can get a clear look at a shot from the point.
Freshman defenseman Ilya Kravtchouk scored the first two goals of his collegiate career to help the Gustavus men’s hockey team earn a split in its weekend series with Bethel by claiming a 5-4 win at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties led 3-1 after one period and 5-1 through two periods, before holding off a late Bethel rally to win 5-4. Kravtchouk picked up three points on the night with two goals and an assist. Josh Swartout picked up the win in the nets.
“There is no such thing as a bad win,” commented Coach Brett Petersen. “I was pleased with how we started and disappointed with how we finished, but we found a way to win. Give credit to Bethel for battling to the finish.”
Petersen was also encouraged by seeing some new faces on the scoresheet. He stated, “It was fun to see Ilya (Kravtchouk) and Patrick (Hurley) register their first collegiate goals. We have been having trouble scoring so it was nice to get a contribution from a variety of players.”
Gustavus got off to a fast start scoring twice in just over a minute midway through the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Kravtchouk scored at the 10:27 mark and then Ross Ring-Jarvi lit the lamp at the 11:31 mark. The Royals got a goal from Jake Irey at 14:27 to cut the lead to 2-1, but Kravtchouk tallied his second goal of the period to give the Gusties a 3-1 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.
Neither team could generate any kind of a scoring threat in the first half of the second period, but Gustavus picked up goals by Dane Erickson (11:27) and Patrick Hurley (17:21) in the second half of the period and took a 5-1 lead into the locker after two periods of play.
Bethel mounted a big charge in the third period scoring three times in the first 12 minutes to cut the Gustavus lead to 5-4. The Royals kept the heat on the Gusties and Bethel pulled its goaltender in the final 90 seconds, but Gustavus held on for the one-goal victory.
Josh Swartout picked up the win in goal making 32 saves. The Gusties held a slight 36-33 edge in shots.
Gustavus will host Concordia University (Wis.) on Tuesday at 7:05 pm at Don Roberts Ice Rink.