Box Score

Post-Game Interviews:
-Freemark, Soley & Schueller (1:17)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wisconsin-Superior in its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Junior Neal Smith (Rogers, Minn.) gave SJU (2-0-1 overall) a 1-0 lead with a 4-on-4 rebound goal, his third of the young season, off the initial shot from classmate Joe Freemark (Lakeville, Minn.) 7:43 into the game. Senior Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) collected the second assist, his team-leading fourth of the season.

Jake Johnson tied the game at 1-1 for Superior (2-1-0 overall) with a rebound goal of his own 5:45 into the second period.

Sophomore Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.) broke the tie with what proved to be the game-winner, his first tally of the season, at the 14:01 mark of the second period. Freemark generated the scoring play once again with a shot from the point. Becker possessed the rebound, skated around the goaltender and found the back of the net. Freshman Huba Sekesi (Germering, Germany) tallied the second assist for his first collegiate point.

Junior Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 33 saves to move to 1-0-1 on the year and earn his 30th career win (30-13-2 record).

UWS out-shot the Johnnies 34-27 in the game, including five-shot margins in the first (13-8) and third (14-9) periods. SJU denied four Superior power-play chances and is now 13-for-14 (92.9 percent) on the penalty kill through three games this season.

The Johnnies return to action with a 2 p.m. matinee against No. 10 Wisconsin-Eau Claire this Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.