WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team rallied back from a three goal deficit, but fell in overtime 5-4 to Saint Mary’s Saturday. With the loss the Gusties fall to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals move to 3-5-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
It was all Saint Mary’s in the early going of the contest, as the Cardinals scored the lone first period goal and outshot Gustavus 12-4 in the frame.
The home team kept their momentum in the early going of the second frame, notching a goal 1:33 in and then another 10:39 in for a 3-0 lead.
Gustavus responded though, with J.P. Eykyn (Jr., Waseca) getting a goal at the 12:13 mark of the second period with an assist going to Tyler Ebner (So., La Crosse, Wis.) to trim the deficit to 3-1. The Gusties continued to roll, with Caleb Anderson (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) getting two goals in a span of a minute and 45 seconds late in the second frame to even things at three.
After a scoreless first 12 minutes of the third period, Dan Sandvig (So., Savage) recorded his first goal of the season, with an assist going to Axel Hallin (Sr., Hovas, Sweden) to break to tie and put Gustavus up 4-3 with 7:20 to play.
After four straight Gustie goals, the Cardinals would score with 4:02 in regulation to even things at four. The two teams would play a scoreless last four minutes and head to overtime.
Just over three minutes into the overtime period, the Cardinals were able to grab a loose puck on the right side and pass it across the crease and knock it in for the game-winner.
Robbie Goor (Jr., Anoka) got the start in net making 24 saves in the loss.
The Gusties are next in action on Friday when they will travel to St. Scholastica for a 7 p.m. contest.