Box Score | Listen to Archived Game
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's jumped out to a 3-0 lead but could not hold off No. 15 Gustavus Adolphus in a 4-3 loss on Friday, Jan. 13, in St. Cloud.
Junior Jascha Pettit (Wadena, Minn.) beat GAC goaltender John McLean glove side with a pretty wrister 6:38 into the game. Freshmen John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) and Nick Vatnsdal (Independence, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play for SJU (3-9-2, 1-4-0 MIAC).
Sophomore Trent Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) extended the lead to 2-0 with a misdirected goal off a GAC defenseman 7:21 later with assists going to the other Johnsons, Jason and Phil.
The Johnnies took advantage of a 1:32, 5-on-3 power play with a goal from junior Joe Harren (Warroad, Minn.) 11:02 into the second period. Junior Michael Palmiscno (East Grand Forks, Minn.) and freshman Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) collected the assists.
Zach May put GAC (10-4-2, 4-3-0 MIAC) on the scoreboard with 2:55 left. SJU then successfully killed off a 5-minute Gustavus power play, which started at the 18:31 mark of the second period.
The third period belonged to the Gusties, however, as the visitors posted a 13-4 advantage in shots against the fatigued Johnnies.
Andy Pearson cut the Gusties' deficit to one 4:41 into the final frame. Ryan Johnson tied it with 3:28 left and Gustav Bengston scored the game-winner on an intercepted pass 31 seconds later.
Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 20 saves in the loss.
McLean made 14 saves to extend his and the Gusties' winning streak to eight. He entered the game with the MIAC's top GAA (1.90) and the second-best save percentage (.935). With the Gusties down 3-1 in the second period, McLean made what proved to be a critical save on Haeg, who walked in on goal.
The one-goal loss is the Johnnies' fifth of the year and 24th in four seasons. Although the Johnnies snapped a 0-for-13 streak on the power play (1-for-4), they mustered a season-low 17 shots on goal (13-11 advantage through two periods).
SJU travels to St. Peter for the rematch on Saturday, Jan. 14. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. at Don Roberts Ice Arena.
