In an upstate New York shootout, the St. Cloud State University men’s hockey team (9-8-3, 4-7-1 WCHA) skated to a 5-5 tie at #12 Colgate University (10-5-5) in [nl]Hamilton, N.Y. SCSU now owns a four-game unbeaten streak and it is 6-2-2 in its last 10 games.
A goal by sophomore Matt Hartman at 18:11 of the third period pushed the score to 5-5 and forced SCSU’s fifth overtime adventure of the season.
“I was happy with the way we battled back in the game,” SCSU coach Bob Motzko said. “I thought we played well in the third period.”
The Huskies opened the evening’s scoring with a tally by freshman forward John Swanson, a resident of St. Cloud and graduate of Tech H.S. He posted the goal at 6:04 with a shot from the slot past Colgate netminder Mark Dekanich. He was assisted on the play by sophomore forward Matt Hartman and freshman center Michael Olson.
The Raiders tied the score at 13:19 of the first period with a goal by Tom Riley. Assists were provided on the play by Zac Tataryn and Liam Huculak. Colgate gained a 2-1 lead in the match with a goal by Jon Smyth at 16:49 of the first period, as Kyle Wilson had the assist on the play.
In the second period, Colgate extended its lead to 3-1, as Marc Fulton scored at 4:14 on the power play. Ryan Smith and Wilson both had assists on the play.
The Huskies got back into the mix at 15:53 of the second period with a power play goal by junior forward Dan Kronick. Assists were carded on the play by junior forward Gary Houseman and sophomore defender Aaron Brocklehurst. SCSU had gained the advantage when Colgate’s Jesse Winchester was sent to the box after checking Billy Hengen from behind – resulting in a five minute penalty and a game misconduct.
Still on the power play in the second period, the Huskies took advantage with a power play goal by sophomore forward Andrew Gordon at 18:10. Assists were credited to senior forward Billy Hengen and senior forward Konrad Reeder. This was the second night in a row that Gordon had scored and it was also the seventh consecutive game that Reeder has charted a point. The goal provided a 3-3 score going into the final period.
Colgate regained the game’s lead at 1:30 of the third period with a goal by Kyle Wilson. Assists on the play were added by Fulton and Ryan Smyth.
The battling Huskies knotted the score at 4-4 with their third power play goal of the evening. This time, junior forward Justin Fletcher scored at 9:09 of the third with assists from Reeder and Hengen. The goal was Fletcher’s third goal of the season and his first since a goal on Nov. 12 at Michigan Tech.
Colgate went up 5-4 at 12:58 with a power play goal by Wilson. The lone assist on the play was posted by Nick St. Pierre. SCSU was not ready to call it a night, as the Huskies tied the game up once again with a goal by Matt Hartman at 18:11. In the slot, Hartman was assisted on the play by junior defender and team captain Casey Borer and Swanson.
The Huskies will outshot Colgate 44-33 in the game, as they were 3-of-8 on the power play. Bobby Goepfert made 28 saves in the game, as Dekanich had 39 saves for Colgate.
