Just days after being ranked second in the 2010-11 WCHA Coaches Poll, St. Cloud State scored early and held off a late rally by Manitoba, defeating the Bisons 7-4 Saturday night in exhibition play.
SCSU senior forward Nick Oslund ignited the Huskies’ scoring at 12:38 of the first period with a right-handed wrister, beating Manitoba goaltender Jesse Deckert top corner, glove-side. First-year forward Cam Reid and senior defender Brett Barta each charted an assist on the Oslund goal.
The Huskies added to their lead with just 22 seconds remaining in the period when senior forward Garrett Roe drove a slap shot into the top corner, once again besting Deckert glove-side. Sophomore forward Ben Hanowski, who posted 19 points in his freshman campaign, earned the lone assist on the Roe goal.
St. Cloud extended their lead just :50 into the second period when first-year forward Mitch MacMillan put home a rebound for a 3-2 advantage. Senior captain Aaron Marvin and sophomore defender Taylor Johnson each notched assists on the second period tally.
The Bisons scored for two quick goals to pull within one goal, as Blair MaCualay and Riley Dudar scored within 1:05 in the middle of the period.
St. Cloud State and Manitoba exchanged goals to complete the second period, as Drew LeBlanc and Jared Walker each scored for their respective teams within :15 seconds of each other in the final :40 seconds of the period.
Manitoba tied the contest at the 5:10 mark of the third period when forward Ian Duval was credited a goal that deflected off SCSU junior defender Oliver Lauridsen’s skate.
The Huskies wasted little time regaining the lead, as LeBlanc notched his second goal of the game, a power-play tally with assists from Roe and Johnson at 7:28 of the third. The goal was St. Cloud State’s second in five attempts against the Bisons.
SCSU junior forward Travis Novak put the icing on the win at 11:31 of the period, connecting on the receiving side of an end-to-end pass from Mitch MacMillan and beating Caligiuri five-hole for the 6-4 advantage.
First year forward Bryce Johnson padded the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the contest, as senior Brian Volpei and junior Sam Zabkowicz eanred assists on St. Cloud’s seventh goal of the evening.
After Huskies goaltender Mike Lee stopped all 14 shots faced in the first period, senior goalie Dan Dunn allowed three goals on 13 shots in the second, with junior Hardy stopping six of seven shots faced in the third earning the win.
For Manitoba, Deckert allowed three goals on 16 shots, while backup Joe Caligiuri stopped seven of 11 shots in the loss.
The Huskies return to action on Oct. 8 at the UNO Tournament in Omaha, Neb. against Rochester Institute of Technology, while the Bisons face off against North Dakota on Sunday.
