Knights Split with St. Scholastica

After an almost two-week break in the season, the St. Norbert men's hockey team faced St. Scholastica, a National Collegiate Hockey Association opponent, in a two game series. The Knights were able to come away from the series with one win, making their record 7-3-3 overall and 4-3-1 in the NCHA.

            In their first game on Dec. 9, the first period was scoreless even though the Knights had ample opportunities on three power plays. St. Norbert's first-year skater Chris Rial was the first to score at seven minutes 30 seconds of the second period. St. Scholastica answered quickly at 12:48. Senior Johan Ryd scored for the Knights at 12:48, but St. Scholastica's junior Joel Langevin  found the open net at 18 minutes 16 seconds in the second period.

            Even though St. Scholastica had three power-play opportunities, they shot the game-winning goal with all players on the ice. Unfortunately, the Knights couldn't answer with a score of the own in the third, losing to the Saints, 2-3. This loss snapped an unbeaten home streak of 27 games that dates back to Dec. 4, 2009, when the Saints defeated the Knights in overtime, 4-3.

            The two teams went to work again the next day, but with a different outcome. St. Norbert found themselves facing their first series sweep since the 2000-2001 season, and a two-goal deficit going into the second period.

            Down 3-1, junior Cody Keefer of the Knights grabbed his eighth goal of the season and first-year skater Cullen Bradshaw tied the game 3-3 not long after. The Saints had a power-play opportunity at the end of the second that carried over into the third period, but the Green Knights killed it in its tracks. 

Though unable to find the back of the net in the third period the day before, the Knights produced three unanswered goals to split the series 1-1. Senior Alain Joanette was the first to score at six minutes nine seconds of the third period. Sophomore Emil Haque and first-year skater Marian Fiala followed with goals of their own around two to four minutes after. Fiala's goal was the last score of the game, giving the Knights a 6-3 win over the College of St. Scholastica.

            Men's hockey will be traveling to St. Olaf College on Friday, Jan. 6, and St. Mary's University on Saturday, Jan. 7, for their next games. The weekend of Friday, Jan. 13, the Knights will play UW-Superior in a NCHA series at home. All games can be accessed at www.nmtvsports.com.