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WACONIA, Minn. – Saint John's scored three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes of the third period but its 5-0 deficit was too much to overcome in a 5-3 non-conference loss to St. Thomas on Saturday, Dec. 10, in Waconia.

UST (8-3-2, 4-1-1 MIAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, including a power-play goal 2:11 in. The Johnnies have now been whistled for a penalty in the first 5:35 of the game, five of their 11 games this season (four in the first three minutes).

The Tommies added two more in the second period before SJU (3-6-2, 1-3-0 MIAC) made things interesting.

Junior Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) put the Johnnies on the scoreboard with his second goal of the season just 50 seconds into the third frame. Sophomore Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.) was credited with the assist. The goal was awarded to Harren, upon a meeting of the referees, more than a minute after the goal occurred.

Senior Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) cut the deficit to 5-2 with his team-leading sixth goal of the season less than three minutes later. Hochsprung and junior Michael Palmiscno (East Grand Forks, Minn.) earned the assists. Rooney, a St. Thomas Academy graduate, now has seven points (4g/3a) in eight career games against St. Thomas.

Sophomore Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) tallied SJU's third goal of the period with 11:06 left. Freshmen Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) and Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) tallied the assists.

Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 10 saves in the loss, while junior J.D. Wells (Anoka, Minn.) made nine stops in a scoreless third period of relief.

The Johnnies return to the ice after the holidays with a pair of neutral-site, non-conference games against NCHA opponents Friday-Saturday, Jan. 6-7. SJU is scheduled to take on Wisconsin-River Falls in Alexandria Friday (Runestone Community Center), followed by Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Buffalo (Buffalo Civic Center) Saturday. Both games are set for 7 p.m.