Box Score
Box Score | Listen to Archived Game
BLAINE, Minn. – Each member of Saint John's fourth line scored a goal and had two assists as the Johnnies defeated Hamline 4-2 in a non-conference game, as part of the season-opening MIAC Showcase, on Friday, Nov. 1, at Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine.
The fourth line's three forwards, senior Zach Knight (Minneapolis, Minn.), junior John Carroll (Eagan, Minn.) and sophomore Neal Smith (Rogers, Minn.), accounted for nine of the team's 11 points on the night. All three are true high-school recruits with no junior-hockey experience.
Smith gave SJU (1-0 overall) an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 6:49 into the game, his second collegiate goal. Knight possessed the puck behind the Hamline net and found Smith alone in front, who deflected a one-timer in mid-air to the back of the net.
Sophomore Andrew Commers (Edina, Minn.) took advantage of a Hamline turnover and made it 2-0 in favor of SJU with his first goal as a Johnnie 6:43 into the second period. Junior Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) earned the lone assist.
The Johnnies' fourth line lit the lamp again, this time from Carroll 1:35 later. Knight and Smith were credited with the assists on the goal, which was the second of Carroll's collegiate career.
HU (0-1 overall) erased the shutout with a power-play goal from Brandon Zurn at the 13-minute mark of the second period.
The Pipers cut the Johnnies' lead to 3-2 with 14:22 remaining, seven seconds after a Hamline power-play expired.
Knight ended the scoring with an insurance goal at the 18:48 mark of the third period, with assists going to Carroll and Smith.
Sophomore Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 21 saves in the win as both teams registered 23 shots on goal.
The victory is the Johnnies' first season-opening win since the 2009-10 season, a 4-0 shutout in the first MIAC Showcase on Oct. 31, 2009, at the Bloomington Ice Gardens.
The Johnnies take on Concordia-Moorhead for another non-conference tilt at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Fogerty Ice Arena (North Rink).
