ST. PETER, Minn. – Down two goals early in the game, the Gustavus men’s hockey team came back to score five unanswered goals in a 5-2 victory during the opening series against Hamline University Friday evening at Don Roberts Ice Rink.
The Pipers got off to a hot start, scoring on their first shot of the game just 1:07 into the game. Kyle Wendorf capitalized off a Gustie turnover and snuck a shot through the arm of goaltender Robbie Goor (Fy., Anoka, Minn.). Midway through the first frame, Hamline added another on the power play as Mitch McPherson tapped in a rebound.
From then on, the Black and Gold negated the visitors five other power play opportunities while going on to score five unanswered.
A power play goal sparked the Gusties comeback at 14:07 of the first period as Jared Bromberg (So., Rochester, Minn.) put in his first collegiate goal off a great back-door pass from Dominic Picciano (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.).
The Gusties tied the game just a couple minutes later on an odd-man break and nice puck movement. Evan Erickson (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.) buried his second goal of the season after finishing a play from Colin Hernon (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.) and Tim Donohue (Sr., Bloomington, Minn.).
Gustavus and Hamline wrapped the exciting first period tied 2-2, while the Pipers led 11-6 in shots on goal.
The momentum carried in the Gusties favor in the final two periods. Within the first five minutes of the second, Gustavus claimed a two-goal lead as the Hernon – Erickson – Caleb Anderson (Fy., Sioux Falls, S.D.) line scored twice just 21 seconds apart. Hernon tallied the eventual game-winner at 4:19 while Anderson followed with his third of the season at 4:40.
The Black and Gold outshot the Pipers 25-12 in the final two periods. Erickson added an empty-netter late in the third period to give the Gusties a three-goal cushion, his second goal of the game. Goor earned his second consecutive win, notching 21 saves.
Hernon (1g-3a) and Erickson (2g-2a) each finished with a career-high four points, Erickson’s second career two-goal game.
Gustavus, now 3-3-1 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC, look to take the series sweep tomorrow evening in St. Paul. The Gusties and the Pipers drop the puck at 7 p.m. at Oscar Johnson Arena.