ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team battled back and forth with the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the first two periods Saturday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink and held a one-goal lead, but the Blue Devils rallied for three third period goals, handing the Gusties a 5-3 loss. The Gusties fall to 3-8-2 overall, while the Blue Devils move to 7-4-3.
After a slashing call put UW-Stout on the power play four minutes into the game, it responded 21 seconds into the man-advantage for an early 1-0 lead. Gustavus found itself in its first power play opportunity of the night at the 11:36 mark and responded with a goal late in the power play. Van Sullivan (Fy., Brentwood, Tenn.) scored on a deflection from Sam Majka (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) and Gavin Tufte (Sr., Blaine, Minn.). The goal was Sullivan’s second of the season and the two squads entered the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Blue Devils quickly regained the lead at the 2:16 mark in the second period. But once again, the Gusties answered with a power play goal nine minutes later. Evan Erickson (Fy., Woodbury, Minn.) took advantage of a wide-open net for a one-time goal, his third of the season, assisted by Majka and Tufte. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Drew Aspinwall (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) scored the goal-ahead goal on a one-timer from the top of the point. Aspinwall’s second goal of the season came on assists from Jake McCann (So., Shoreview, Minn.) and Colin Hernon (So., Bloomington, Minn.). Gustavus led 3-2 at the second intermission.
The third period was all UW-Stout, though, as it scored the equalizer at the 2:09 mark and what proved to be the game-winner with eight minutes remaining in the game. Gustavus pulled goalie Chris Amsden (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) for the final minute and UW-Stout’s Joe Anderson took advantage of a turnover to score on the empty net for a hat trick and a 5-3 final. Amsden finished with 27 saves.
UW-Stout outshot Gustavus 33-22 and went 1-for-2 on the power play. Gustavus won the faceoff battle 40-34 and went 2-for-3 on the power play.
The Gusties return to Don Roberts Ice Rink next weekend for a Friday game against UW-Superior, followed by Saturday’s matchup with UW-River Falls on Parents Weekend.