Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. – Saint John's University junior defenseman Travis Brown's (Otsego, Minn.) fifth goal of the season, and second of the tournament, gave the Johnnies a 5-4 overtime win over Nichols (Mass) in the Boston Landing Tournament's consolation game on Sunday, Jan. 5, at the Warrior Ice Arena.

Brown ripped home a wrister from what seems to be his spot, near the left faceoff circle, with 52 seconds remaining in overtime. He gave SJU (3-5-4, 1-1-3 MIAC) the extra point in the conference standings with similar goals during the extra 3-on-3 frame Nov. 9 at Bethel and Dec. 10 vs. Hamline.

Junior forward Tanner Dufault (Kasson, Minn.) gave SJU a quick 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season, and fifth of his career, on the Johnnies' first shot attempt 1:56 into the game.

Nichols (1-11, 0-7 CCC), however, scored three straight goals to build a 3-1 lead. Filip Virgili tied the game with a power-play goal, the team's sixth in 67 opportunities, 6:23 after Dufault's tally and Nate Foster gave the Bison a 2-1 lead 3:54 into the second period. J.B. Baker made it 3-1 with 9:19 left in the second period, five seconds after a Nichols power play expired.

SJU clawed back to tie the game at 3-3 with a pair of goals from defensemen. Freshman Peter Tabor (Edina, Minn.) cut the Johnnies' deficit to 3-2 with a shorthanded goal, his second tally of the season, with 4:43 left in the second period and junior Troy Dobbs (Lancaster, N.Y.) scored the equalizer one minute into the third period.

The Johnnies found themselves in trouble, however, as senior forward Kyle Wagner (St. Francis, Minn.) took a penalty 20 seconds after Dobbs' goal and the Bison gained a 5-on-3 advantage when junior forward Ryan Kero (Hermantown, Minn.) was whistled for an offensive-zone interference penalty 1:10 later. Dobbs created a trio in the box with a high-sticking penalty 24 seconds after that. All told, SJU killed off 4:04 of power play, including 2:24 of 5-on-3, and allowed six shots on goal.

Junior forward Brady Dahl (Rochester, Minn.) gave SJU a 4-3 lead with his third goal of the season, during a delayed penalty, with 8:33 remaining in regulation. The Johnnies were unable to score during the man advantage (0-for-3 in the game, 1-for-9 in the tournament) and Nichols' Lucas Andersson tied it on a rebound goal with 4:19 left.

Junior goaltender Mac Berglove (Elk River, Minn.) made 22 saves in the win, his second of the season (2-1-2 record) and 10th of his career (10-8-4).

The Bison entered the game last out of 84 NCAA Division III teams in combined special teams at 36.1 percent (44-for-122), 80th in scoring offense (1.73 gpg.) and fourth in penalty minutes per game (21.6).

The Johnnies continue non-conference play with a pair of games this Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11, in Wisconsin. SJU takes on Wisconsin-Superior at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a trip to Northland Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest.