SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team looked to respond after taking a 5-2 opening night loss against the Lawrence University Vikings. The Gusties retaliated with a 7-4 win while newcomers Artem Korolev (Fy., Moscow, Russia) and Brandon McNamara (Fy., Andover) notched their first collegiate goals in the process. With the win, Gustavus moves to 1-1 overall.
“Great first win for our team,” said Head Coach Brett Petersen. “I am really pleased with how our young group responded tonight.”
Despite several Gustavus opportunities, Lawrence opened the scoring at the 11:33 mark of the first period. Four minutes later, George Hansen (Sr., Patchogue, N.Y.) scored an equalizer on a five-hole shot with assists credited to Ryan Petersen (Fy., Roseville) and Patrick Gazich (Sr., Minnetonka). In the final minute of the opening frame, Stanislav Danaev (So., Moscow, Russia) and Micah Gernander (Fy., Coleraine) connected on a pass to Korolev for his first career goal and a 2-1 Gustie lead with Gustavus outshooting the Vikings 18-7 at the end of the first.
Lawrence tied the game back up five minutes into the second period, but Korolev continued to impress scoring his second of the night with Nick Klishko (Sr., San Diego) on the assist to keep a 3-2 advantage. Ten seconds later Jack Westlund (Fy., Alexandria) and Mason Etter (Sr., Grafton Wis.) went on a two-on-one rush before finding the tape on Gazich’s stick who added a fourth into the left side of an open net. The Vikings cut into the deficit with a final goal before closing out the second period.
Both teams pulled out every defensive stop in the third period before McNamara made a breakaway on a Lawrence turnover at the thirteen minute mark, going one on one against the goaltender before sniping a shot into the five hole. Thirty seconds after, Connor Clemons (Sr., Savage) scored the sixth Gustie goal off of a deflection from Westlund and Kylar Fenton (Fy., Grafton, Wis.). The Vikings attempted to put together a final play for a closer margin pulling their goaltender, and Jack Suchy (Fy., Medina) made an empty netter final goal in the 7-4 win. Jackson Hjelle (So., Delano) was credited with the Gustie win making 23 saves and allowing four goals.
The Gusties are next in action when they host a weekend WIAC series against UW-Stevens Point on Friday and UW-Stout on Saturday at 7:00.