ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team picked up a huge 6-3 win over Concordia College on Friday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink. The Gusties improve to 4-10-3 overall and 3-4-2 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers fall to 7-9-2 overall and 5-3-1 in the league. The victory snaps a seven-game winless streak and marks the first win at home this season.
The first period showcased the Gustie offense as it was able to control the Cobber zone for a majority of the period. The pressure finally paid off with four minutes remaining in the period as Sam Majka (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) snuck in a wrap-around goal to give the Gusties a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The goal was assisted by Van Sullivan (Fy., Brentwood, Tenn.). Gustavus doubled-up Concordia in shots on goal, 14-7, after the first 20 minutes.
It only took the Black and Gold 16 seconds into the second frame to gain a two-goal advantage as Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.) slapped in his team-leading sixth goal of the season on assists from Sullivan and Majka. The Cobbers were quick to answer, though, as they lit the lamp at the 1:53 mark. Nearly four minutes passed until Gustavus regained a two-goal advantage as Tim Donohue (So., Bloomington, Minn.) buried a loose puck in the crease for a 3-1 lead. Alex Koopmeiners (Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.) was credited with the assist. The Gusties continued their flurry of goals as Majka tallied his second goal of the game and fourth of the season at the 6:49 mark. Hernon and Sullivan received the assists. Trailing 4-1, Concordia responded with a pair of goals within two minutes of each other to make it a one-goal game, 4-3, which remained the score at the second intermission.
Gustavus controlled the third period throughout, scoring insurance goals from Donohue at the 2:25 mark and another from Darren Lapic (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) at the 7:03 mark. Donohue’s second goal of the night came after he skated into the Cobber zone through the right side and fired a shot past the left shoulder of Concordia goalie Alex Reichle. Lapic’s goal came from right in front of the net on assists from Evan Erickson (Fy., Woodbury, Minn.) and Jake McCann (So., Shoreview, Minn.).
Erik Johnson (Jr., Sauk Rapids, Minn.) earned his third win of the season after stopping 20 shots. The Gusties fired 38 shots on goal and won the faceoff battle 42-39. Nick Sheak (So., Woodbury, Minn.) was a key player on the dots, going 12-for-17 on the draw.
The season series with Concordia wraps up at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink.