Johnnies Suffer Disappointing Loss in Overtime

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Wis.-River Falls’ Derek Hansberry netted the game-winning goal with 34 seconds remaining in overtime as the No. 6 Falcons defeated Saint John’s 4-3 Thursday night in St. Cloud. The loss is the Johnnies’ seventh one-goal loss of the season.

SJU surrendered a 3-1 lead in the third period as the Falcons’ Tyler Czuba scored back-to-back goals 56 seconds apart to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Senior forward Pat Eagles (Falcon Heights, Minn.) got the Johnnies on the scoreboard first as he intercepted an errant River Falls pass in the offensive zone and sent a one-timer into the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead.

River Falls’ Pat Borgestad tied the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal with 40 seconds remaining in the first period.

Sophomore forward Karl Gilbert (Hermantown, Minn.) regained the lead for SJU with his fourth power-play goal of the season off a picture-perfect feed from Eagles 2:32 into the second period. Sophomore forward Dylan Decker (Park City, Utah) increased the Johnnies’ lead to 3-1 less than three minutes later with his first career goal. Freshman defenseman Pat McClure (Maple Plain, Minn.) recorded his first career assist on the scoring play.

Junior goaltender Vince Wheeler (Clearwater, Minn.) made 36 saves, while Stephen Ritter made 37 stops for Wis.-River Falls (11-2-3, 4-1-1 NCHA).

Saint John’s (5-7-2, 2-2-2 MIAC) travels to face No. 8 Wis.-Stout on Friday, Jan. 11. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m. at the Dunn County Ice Arena in Menomonie, Wis.

Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes