Chris Amsden made a career-high 40 saves in the win at Saint Mary’s.
WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team evened the series with Saint Mary’s University on Saturday night, claiming a 5-2 victory. With the win, the Gusties gain three points in the MIAC standings with a 4-6-2 league record and a 5-12-4 mark overall.
It didn’t take long for the Gusties to take the lead as Jake McCann (So., Shoreview, Minn.) scored his third goal of the season 2:31 into the first period on an assist from Will Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.). Nearly seven minutes later, Joncarlo Westerlund (Jr., Baudette, Minn.) gave Gustavus a 2-0 advantage with his first goal on the year, assisted by Alex Koopmeiners (Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.). Saint Mary’s was quick to answer, though, as it ended the shutout 45 seconds later. The Gusties regained their two-goal lead with just over five minutes remaining in the period on a goal by Darren Lapic (Sr., New Prague, Minn.), which was his third of the season. Gustavus led 3-1 at the first intermission.
The Gusties padded their lead with another goal in the second period. Van Sullivan (Fy., Brentwood, Tenn.) tallied his fourth goal of the season at the 12:30 mark to take a 4-1 advantage, which held as the score into the second break. Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.) and Sam Majka (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) were credited with the assists.
In the third period, the Cardinals got one back with a goal 3:24 into the final frame to make it a 4-2 game. But with a two-goal deficit late in the game, Saint Mary’s pulled its goalie and the Gusties capitalized with an empty-netter off the stick of McCann for a 5-2 lead, which stood for a final.
Saint Mary’s outshot Gustavus 42-22, but Chris Amsden (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) proved to be a formidable tender with a season-high 40 saves. The Gusties never went on the power play, while the Cardinals were 0-3 in the man-advantage.
Gustavus faces Bethel University in a home-away series next weekend.