Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's hockey controlled play in two of the three periods but fell to Saint Mary's 4-1 on Thursday night, Jan. 23, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

The Johnnies (6-10, 3-4 MIAC) outshot the Cardinals (8-7-1, 4-2-1 MIAC) by a combined 32-9 margin in the first and third periods but struggled to find the back of the net. SJU hit the pipe twice and was denied on a breakaway attempt in the loss.

The home team recorded the first nine shots on goal, in addition to junior forward Rob Christy (St. Paul, Minn.) clanking the pipe 3:52 in, and ended the first period with a 16-4 advantage but was left off the scoreboard. 

The script flipped for SJU as the Cardinals posted a 17-5 advantage in shots and scored two goals in the second period. Blake Green erased the scoreless draw with sharp-angle shot near the bottom of the right faceoff circle 1:21 into the second period. The visitors then took advantage of an SJU line charge and Laudon Poellinger scored a tic-tac-toe goal on the power play halfway (9:56) through the frame. SMU entered the game fourth in NCAA Division III at 30.8 percent (16-for-52) on the man advantage and went 1-for-4 on the night.

Connor Abric made it 3-0 for the Cardinals with an unassisted goal 2:51 third period before junior defenseman Mason Campbell (Rosemount, Minn.) put SJU on the board with his second goal of the season and 30th career point (12g/18a) with 13:52 remaining.

Cooper Smyl ended the game's scoring for the Cardinals with an empty-net goal with 1:23 left.

Junior goaltender Jon Howe (Chanhassen, Minn.) made 22 saves in the loss.

SJU recorded stat advantages in shots on goal (37-26) and faceoffs (37-22), but went 0-for-3 on the power play.

The Johnnies and Cardinals complete the series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the SMU Ice Arena in Winona.