Saint John's University Athletics

Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. – Saint John's hockey trounced a 2-1 deficit with two goals in the final 4:53 to defeat Gustavus Adolphus 3-2 on Saturday, Jan. 31, in St. Peter.

Sophomore forward Kevin Becker (Roseville, Minn.) beat the other nine skaters to a loose puck off the faceoff, that was trickling toward the Gustavus net, and then beat the goaltender for the game-winning goal with 1:53 remaining to give SJU (9-5-5, 5-3-2 MIAC) five of the weekend's six possible points in the MIAC standings. The goal was the 10th of Becker's career and his 10th point of the season (4g/6a). Senior forward Phil Johnson (Duluth, Minn.) tallied the lone assist.

Becker recorded the game-tying goal with 3:07 remaining in last night's (Jan. 30) 1-1 tie in St. Cloud. The Johnnies then won the shootout (1-0) to earn the extra point.

Junior forward Andrew Commers (Edina, Minn.) tied the game at 2-2 with a shorthanded goal, his second tally of the season and the sixth shorty allowed by Gustavus (6-8-7, 3-4-5 MIAC) in 2014-15, with 4:53 remaining. Senior forward John Haeg tallied the assist, his 10th of the season, on the 2-on-1 rush. He now has 96 career points (31g/65a), and needs four to become the 21st Johnnie to reach 100 for a career. Senior defenseman Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) added the second assist on the scoring play.

Sophomore forward Dan McNamara (Grand Rapids, Mich.) hammered home a rebound on the side of the net, off the initial wrister from junior defenseman Tyson Fulton (Champlin, Minn.), to give SJU a 1-0 lead 7:25 into the first period. Senior forward Nick Vatnsdal (Independence, Minn.) tallied the second assist.

Gustavus tied it at 1-1 on a goal from Darren Lapic with 2:26 left in the first period, 25 seconds after a Gustie power play expired. Schyler Adams gave the home team a 2-1 lead with a rebound goal 5:23 into the second period.

Junior goaltender Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 38 saves to improve to 7-3-5 on the season as SJU was out-shot 40-30 in the game, but denied all three Gustie power plays. The win was just the second for SJU in the last nine meetings at Don Roberts Ice Rink (2-5-2 record).

The Johnnies take on Hamline for a home-and-home series next weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. game on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.