SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team used a strong all-around contest as they defeated Saint Mary’s 7-0. With the win the Gusties move to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC while the Cardinals fall to 2-5-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
“Big win for our team,” said Head Coach Brett Petersen. “It was great to see all of the offensive production and for Robbie [Goor] to get a shutout. Tonight’s win will be short lived as we will be in a battle tomorrow night in Winona.”
In the opening frame, both teams got off to a slow start with neither team showing a ton of possession play early. Just under nine minutes in Gustavus was able to get in the board though. Jared Bromberg (Sr., Rochester) skated down the right side of the ice in a two-on-one situation, made a pass across the ice to Nick Klishko (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) who touched it back to Bromberg across the crease for the tap in goal.
Late in the first period though the Gusties were able to put up two quick goals to create some cushion headed into the second period. Klishko was able to score a goal after Mason Etter (Jr., Grafton, Wis.) fired a pass off the end boards behind the net that bounced to Klishko on the right side of the net and he had an open net for a goal. Less than two minutes later Toby Sengvongxay (So., Luverne) was able to put the Gusties up 3-0 on a sharp angle shot from the right side to the left side of the net with assists going to Will LeNeave (Jr., Medina) and J.P. Eykyn (Jr., Waseca).
The second period got a little bit chippy, as both teams racked up a pair of penalties in the first 11:55 but neither team could muster a power play goal. With just under five minutes to go in the period LeNeave would skate up the left side after receiving a pass from Kegan Couture (Sr., Pequot Lakes), slam on the brakes and fire a slap shot past the Saint Mary’s goalie for the 4-0 lead. Saint Mary’s would get a hooking penalty and the Gusties would take advantage, with Connor Clemons (So., Savage) scoring the power play goal, assisted by Sengvongxay and Caleb Anderson (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.).
Early in the third period, Patrick Gazich (Jr., Minnetonka) would take a shot that Logan Norman (Jr., Luverne) redirected with his skate to the right side of the crease to Brenden Payne (So., Plainfield, Ill.) who slapped it in for the goal and a 6-0 Gustavus lead. 25 seconds later, Payne scored another rebound goal, this one off assists from Etter and Gazich.
Robbie Goor (Jr., Anoka) got the start in net and made 24 saves in the shutout victory.
The seven goals is the most goals in a contest for Gustavus since Feb. 1, 2012 when they beat Hamline 7-4 and the most goals at home in 10 years and a day when the Gusties defeated St. Thomas 7-1 on Dec. 5, 2009.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in Winona.