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Defenses Make Stand as
Pointers Tie Gusties
Box Score
Two potent offensive teams provided plenty of
excitement for the first two periods, but it was the defenses that had the final
statement as UW-Stevens Point and Gustavus Adolphus skated to a 4-4 men�s hockey
tie on Friday at Willett Arena.
All of the scoring was done in the first 38 minutes of
the game as the teams played a scoreless third period and overtime. UW-Stevens
Point had more of the scoring opportunities with a 47-28 advantage in shots.
�Our guys battled hard and I thought we played pretty
well,� said Pointers� coach Joe Baldarotta. �We�re still not doing some of the
little things like finishing plays, but overall I was pleased.�
The Gusties, who entered the game as the nation�s top
scoring team, tallied the game�s first goal with a power play goal from Jon
Kesley. Gustavus Adolphus also boasts the nation�s top power play unit and had
plenty of chances, finishing two-for-10 for the game.
�I�d much rather not have given up those two goals,
but they�re a good team and our penalty kill units had to work hard tonight,�
Baldarotta said.
UW-Stevens Point answered later in the period with a
goal from Russel Law to even the game at 1-1.
Gustavus Adolphus scored two goals in the first three
minutes of the second period as John Arundel and Steven Jensen both recorded
goals. However, the Pointers picked up the attack and took the lead with three
straight goals.
Colin Trulock and Andy Cankar both converted rebound
goals just 1:09 apart to tie the game at 3-3. Late in the period, Law picked the
puck from a defender and Rolf Ulvin put in the rebound to give the Pointers the
lead. Gustavus Adolphus rallied less than two minutes later with a power play
goal from Loren Havemeier.
Each team had three power plays in the final period
and the Pointers had 1:19 of a five-on-three advantage, but neither could
convert the game-winner. UW-Stevens Point, which leads the country with eight
shorthanded goals, had a shorthanded breakaway from Brett Beckfeld in the
closing seconds that Gusties' goaltender Erik Kraska turned away. Marcus Paulson
made 24 saves for the Pointers and Kraska had 43 saves for the Gusties.
UW-Stevens Point will host St. Olaf on Saturday at
Willett Arena at 3:30 p.m. |
