Box Score | Listen to Archived Game | Photos (Brace Hemmelgarn)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's displayed its youthfulness and resiliency in a 5-3 loss to St. Thomas in the MIAC opener on Friday, Nov. 11, in St. Cloud.

The Tommies (2-1-1, 1-0-0 MIAC) took an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 1:56 into the game as the visitors outshot SJU 18-9 in the opening period.

The Johnnies fought back to tie it with a goal from sophomore defenseman Trent Johnson (Duluth, Minn.). Junior Tobias Linbro (Nykvarn, Sweden) and sophomore Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play for SJU (1-2-1, 0-1-0 MIAC).

Travis Baker gave the lead back to UST less than seven minutes later, and Chris Cass added a wraparound goal 6:24 into the third period to increase the lead to 3-1.

Senior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) cut the deficit to 3-2 with his second goal of the season on a pass from freshman John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) at the 12:04 mark.

The Tommies answered, however, with a goal from Alex Altenbernd with 2:31 remaining.

Down but not out, Rooney added his second goal of the game on the power play with 1:47 left. Linbro and fellow Swede Axel Ramsgard (Gothenburg, Sweden) collected the assists.

Bryce Walker added an empty-net goal with 57 seconds left to ice it for UST.

Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 33 saves in the loss for SJU.

Rooney, a St. Thomas Academy graduate, now has six points (3g/3a) in six career games against St. Thomas.

SJU posted a 27-20 advantage in shots in the final two periods.

The Johnnies travel to face St. Thomas for a 7 p.m. contest Saturday, Nov. 12, at the St. Thomas Academy Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.