Box Score

BLAINE, Minn. – Saint John's hockey erased a 2-1 deficit with four third-period goals to wrap up the MIAC Showcase with a 5-2 non-conference win over St. Olaf on Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine.

Seven of the Johnnies' 10 goals on the weekend were scored in the third period. SJU led the MIAC (all games) in both third-period goals (39) and third-period scoring differential (+18) last season. 

The 2-0 start is SJU's first since the 2004-05 season. The Johnnies went 1-0-1 in their first two games of the season in 2009-10 and 2014-15.

Junior forward Sam Valerius (Maple Grove, Minn.) tied the game at 2-2 with a backhander eight minutes into the third period and senior co-captain and forward Dan McNamara (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 1:30 later.

Sophomore forward Mitch Fritz (St. Cloud, Minn.) and freshman defenseman Cole Souto (Yorba Linda, Calif.) ended the scoring with a power-play goal each in the final four and a half minutes to seal the win.

Senior defenseman Daniel Tripicchio (Hudson, Wis.) gave SJU an early 1-0 lead, 5:13 into the game, with his second career goal on a one-timer from sophomore forward Matt Colford (Champlin, Minn.), the first of his three assists on the day (for a total of five in two games this season).

The Oles (0-2 overall) tied the game at 1-1 on a rebound goal with 12:17 left in the second period and gained a 2-1 lead, on the power play, with 13:47 remaining in the game.

Freshman goaltender Andrew Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) made 30 saves to earn the win in his collegiate debut.

SJU out-shot the Oles 40-32 in the game, including a 19-11 margin in the third period.

The Johnnies open conference play with a pair of games at Concordia-Moorhead (2-0 overall) next weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. puck-drop on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Moorhead Sports Center. The two teams end the series with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 5.