Box Score

Box Score | Listen to Archived Game

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – No. 5 St. Thomas scored three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, in a 3-1 win over Saint John's on Friday, Feb. 21, in Mendota Heights.

The Johnnies were dealt a significant blow early, 2:52 into the game, when senior assistant captain and 2013 All-MIAC first-team forward Justin Hochsprung (Alexandria, Minn.) suffered a leg injury and left the game via ambulance.

Left with 17 skaters the rest of the way, SJU (15-9, 9-6 MIAC) took advantage of an offensive-zone penalty called on UST when junior John Haeg (Lakeville, Minn.) centered a pass off the skate of a Tommie defenseman to the back of the net 7:46 into the game. Senior Josh Gross (Maple Grove, Minn.) and junior Nick Senta (Savage, Minn.) were credited with the assists.

Thomas Williams tied the game for UST (19-3-3, 13-0-2 MIAC) with a power-play goal of his own with 1:36 left in the first period.

Following a scoreless second period, Steve Sorensen provided what proved to be the game-winner with 6:30 remaining and Alex Altenbernd added the insurance goal, an empty-netter, with 21 seconds left. UST out-shot the Johnnies 28-17 in the game, including an 11-1 margin in the third period.

Sophomore Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 25 saves in the loss for SJU.

SJU received help from playoff-hopeful Augsburg, which defeated St. Olaf by a 3-2 Friday night, but still sits in fourth place in the MIAC standings, one point behind the Oles. The Johnnies hold the tie-breaker with STO and need to register at least one point Saturday night, and again receive help from the Auggies, in order to avoid the quarterfinal (No. 4 seed/No.5 seed) game next week. Luckily for SJU, the Auggies need a regulation win again Saturday to earn an MIAC Playoff berth.

The Johnnies end the regular season with a 7 p.m. game against the Tommies on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.