Drew Aspinwall scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to allow Gustavus a 3-2 win over Marian.
Appleton, Wis. – After last night’s high-scoring, high-octane 6-6 tie against Lawrence University, the Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey team was able to come away with a victory via the more traditional score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon against Marian University on the final day of the NCHA/MIAC Thanksgiving Showdown held this weekend at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the final period, Gustavus scored two goals within the first five minutes to come away with the victory. The Gusties improve to 6-3-1 overall with the win, while Marian drops to 4-7-0.
The Gusties kicked off the afternoon’s scoring within the first five minutes of the first period. Corey Leivermann (Sr., North Mankato, Minn.) scored for the second time in as many days and extended his point-streak to six games. His goal came from Tyler Lapic (Jr., New Prague, Minn.) and Jack Walsh (Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn.) at the 4:25 mark.
Marian controlled the second period with a pair of goals off the stick of Matt Williams. Williams tied the game at 1-1 :23 seconds into the frame, and then later put Marian up 2-1 with a goal at the 11:49 mark.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the final period, Gustavus won the third with two goals inside the opening five minutes of the frame. Tony Paulson (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) scored his first collegiate goal off an assist from Gustav Bengtson (Sr., Stockholm, Sweden) at the 2:17 point to tie the game at 2-2.
Drew Aspinwall (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) brought the day’s scoring to an end with his first collegiate/game-winning goal at the 4:56 mark off an Adam Smyth (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) assist.
Goaltender Erik Johnson (Fr, Rice, Minn.) joined his rookie teammates, Paulson and Aspinwall, with a first in his young career. Johnson earned the win after stopping 23-of-25 shots.
Marian outshot Gustavus 25-24 in the game. Neither team took advantage on the power play, as Marian went 0-for-2 and Gustavus went 0-for-1.
The Gustavus men’s hockey team will be in action next on Saturday, Dec. 6 when it kicks off a home/home series against St. Olaf at 7:30 p.m. in Northfield, Minn.