A handful of nonconference games finished off the calendar year and signaled the beginning of the second half of the 2011-2012 season. Three MCHA teams took to the road, and Hamline represented the MIAC at a tournament in Oswego, N.Y.
A much anticipated matchup between No. 7 Adrian and a surprisingly-tough Wisconsin-Stevens Point team lived up to expectations. Adrian scored two goals in the third period to defeat Wis.-Steven Point, 3-1, Friday. Dan Barczuk scored the game-winning goal on a power play at 15:47 of the third. Zach Graham and Josh Ranalli also scored for Adrian. Kyle Heck scored the lone goal for Wis.-Stevens Point on a power play.
On Saturday, Wis.-Stevens Point took control in the last two periods to defeat Adrian, 6-2, and earn a split on the weekend. Scott Henegar led the way with two goals and Kyle Politz added a goal and an assist for Wis.-Stevens Point. Adrian built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Shelby Gray and Lukas Ciotti.
Augsburg hosted Lawrence in another weekend series. John Lennartson exploded for four goals and Thomas Paine and Trevor Doden each had two goals as Augsburg had its most offensively-productive game of the season in a 9-4 victory over Lawrence. J.P. Perpich also had a goal and an assist for Augsburg. Brad Scurfield had a goal and an assist, while Gustav Lindgren added two assists for Lawrence.
Matt Hughes scored the lone goal of the game in overtime, as Lawrence earned a split with Augsburg during Saturday’s contest. The goaltenders had outstanding games, as both teams continued to apply the offensive pressure. Justin Lochner made 31 saves in the loss for Augsburg, while Peter Emery stopped all 40 shots he faced in earning the shutout victory.
Johnny Van Siclen scored two goals to pace No. 8 Amherst to a 3-0 victory over Lake Forest Friday.
Hamline faced a difficult draw as it faced No. 11 Neumann in the first game of the Pathfinder Bank Tournament in Oswego. Corey Park scored the game-winning goal with three minutes left in the game to help Neumann defeat Hamline, 5-3. After Neumann tallied two first period goals, Hamline came back to tie the contest in the second period on goals by Jordan VanGilder and Sam Leslie. Dave Gervais gave Neumann the lead again at 10:14 of the third period, but less than three minutes later, Zach Johnson tied the game for Hamline.
Hamline and Connecticut College skated to a 3-3 overtime tie in the tournament on Saturday. Connecticut College took a 1-0 lead into the third before Hamline scored three unanswered goals by Zach Johnson, Jordan VanGilder and Cam Stowers. Hamline committed two untimely penalties in the final minutes to give Connecticut College a five-on-three power play. Kevin Reich cut the deficit to 3-2 for Connecticut College with the first power-play goal at 17:49, and Keith Veronesi tied the game with 14 seconds left in regulation with his power-play goal. Connecticut College won a shootout to decide the third place trophy.
