MIAC
Augsburg’s unbeaten run came to an end over the weekend as St. Thomas swept a MIAC series against the Auggies. The Tommies blanked the Auggies, 2-0, Friday and then closed out the weekend with a 5-4 win. The shutout win was the first time Augsburg has been kept off the scoreboard in 70 games. Benjamin Meyers recorded the fourth shutout of his career to pace St. Thomas on Friday night. Meyers helped kill off four power-play opportunities for the Auggies. Meanwhile, Johnny Panvica scored a power-play goal 54 seconds into the third period to give the Tommies the only goal they would need. Cullen Wilcox scored an empty-net goal to finish off the scoring.
On Saturday, Wilcox was the hero, punching in two goals. Tanner Barnes came through with a goal and three assists as the Tommies secured their 5-4 win. Meyers stopped 37 shots in Saturday’s game as the Tommies notched their third consecutive win. He finished with a total of 65 saves in two games against the Auggies. He also killed off four more power plays. Drew Anderson scored two goals for Augsburg, which had won its first eight games of the season before dropping two against its MIAC rival. Eric Brenk dished out two assists.
The Tommies are 5-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play. Augsburg is 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the MIAC.
Johnnies record huge weekend sweep
Saint John’s picked up two big wins to move into a tie for second place with Augsburg in the conference standings. Both teams have eight points on the year.
The Johnnies opened the weekend with a dominating 7-0 win over Saint Mary’s. Andrew Lindgren stopped 15 shots en route to his first collegiate shutout, while the Johnnies ended an 0-for-12 showing on the power play by converting all three of their opportunities in Friday’s game. Two of those goals came 28 seconds apart.
Seven different players scored a goal, including Sam Valerius, who scored the 20th goal of his career. Sean Lang also scored, punching in the 15th goal of his career. Brady Heppner continued his hot start as he scored his team-best fifth goal of the season. He also pushed his career point total to 25.
Saint John’s capped the series with a 4-1 win Saturday. The Johnnies killed off nine power-play chances for the Cardinals. Heppner scored his second goal of the weekend and his sixth of the year. Ryan Kero also scored in the win, with his goal serving as the first game-winning goal of his career. It’s his third goal of the year.
The Johnnies got a great effort from Mac Berglove as well. He tallied 36 saves to earn his second win of the year over Saint Mary’s. He also earned a win against the Cardinals in the MIAC Showcase in October.
Saint John’s has owned the all-time series against Saint Mary’s, winning 50 of the 79 meetings between the two teams since the 1984-85 season. The Johnnies are 18-4 in the last 22 meetings against the Cardinals on the road.
NCHA
Impressive win for the Foresters
Lake Forest not only upset the 11th-ranked team in the country Friday night, it did so in convincing fashion. The Foresters rolled to 5-0 win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering, their sixth win in their last seven games. Louis DeCourcy nailed down his second shutout of the year and Billy Kent took a shot that was so hard it knocked the water bottle off the netting. It was his third goal of the season and he has 10 points in 10 games. George Gerasimou tallied two assists, including one on Kent’s goal, and leads the team with 11 points.
Lake Forest scored three of its goals off the power play and has gotten at least one power-play goal in its last five games. The Foresters did lose Saturday’s game 3-2 to Concordia, but sit at 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the NCHA. Lake Forest has scored four or more goals in five of its last six games.
Bulldogs pass key test
Adrian faced a stern test from Saint Scholastica Friday night and managed to pass it behind four unanswered goals in the second and third periods to secure a 4-1 win. The second-ranked Bulldogs won their fourth consecutive game thanks to four different players scoring goals and a solid goaltending effort from Dillon Kelley, who made 20 saves and improved to 3-0 in his career.
Brian Bachnak scored the go-ahead goal in the second period. It was his first game-winning goal since his freshman season. He’s a junior this season. Adrian has been solid defensively lately, allowing just three goals in its last three games. It would go on to close out the weekend with a 3-0 win over Northland. The Bulldogs are 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference and sit atop the South Division.
WIAC
Wisconsin-Stout is off to a great start in conference play. The Blue Devils are 2-0 after a 2-1 win over Wisconsin-Superior Friday night at home. Konnar Dechaine tied the score at 1-1 and Lucas Carroll punched in the game-winner. The goal was Carroll’s third of the year and his first off the power play. Dechaine’s goal was his second of the season. Tommi Ahlgren had a stellar day in goal, making 32 saves as Wis.-Stout won its second consecutive game. The Blue Devils are 5-6-1 overall.
Pointers roll past Falcons
Wisconsin-Stevens Point rolled past Wisconsin-River Falls, 6-1, Friday night. Willem Nong-Lambert, Steven Quagliata, and Carter Roo all tallied a goal and assist for the 10th-ranked team in the country. It’s the second consecutive game in which the Pointers have scored six goals. Max Milosek was sensational in goal, stopping 18 shots for his fourth win of the season.
The Pointers are 7-3-2 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play.
Blugolds cruise to shutout win
David Johnson notched the first shutout of his career and Wisconsin-Eau Claire defeated Wis.-River Falls, 4-0, for its fifth consecutive win over the Falcons. The win streak dates back to last season. Johnson made his second start of the year in the game and made 21 saves. He’s 2-0. The sophomore owns a save percentage of .981. The No. 14 Blugolds improved to 8-4-0 overall and are 1-1 in conference play.
Jake Bresser helped pave the way offensively as he scored his fifth goal of the season and Jacob Wolter punched in his first goal of the year as Wis.-Eau Claire won for the fifth time in its last six games.
