Last-Second Goal Denies Johnnies a MIAC Win

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John’s skated to a 3-3 tie against Bethel Saturday, Dec. 8 in St. Cloud. The Johnnies surrendered a game-tying, 6-on-4 goal with nine seconds remaining in regulation and outshot the Royals 39-22 in the contest.

Bethel’s Christian Fogerty gave BU a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game. Sophomore Gabriel Harren (Warroad, Minn.) tied the game with his first goal of the season at the 12-minute mark of the firLast period with assists going to junior Clayton Rehm (Park Rapids, Minn.) and senior Nate Meinz (St. Cloud, Minn.). SJU headed into the second period with a 2-1 lead after freshman Pat McClure (Maple Plain, Minn.) scored his first career goal with 14 seconds left in the opening frame. Rehm and Harren assisted on the scoring play for SJU.

Harren netted his second goal of the game on the power play with 8:17 left in the second period to give the Johnnies a 3-1 lead. Rehm recorded his third assist of the game on the tally.

BU cut the deficit to 3-2 less than three minutes later on a goal by Brad Peterson. With a tripping penalty to Harren and BU goaltender Aaron Damjanovich pulled, the Royals’ Steve Eastman tallied his third goal of the season to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Junior goaltender Vince Wheeler (Clearwater, Minn.) made 19 saves for SJU (4-6-2, 2-2-2 MIAC), while Damjanovich made 36 saves for the Royals (8-2-1, 3-2-1 MIAC).

Saint John’s will play host to Gustavus Adolphus in a non-conference game Wednesday, Dec. 12. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Notes: SJU was without two of its three top scorers, junior Joel Stacklie (4g/11a) and senior Tom Freeman (4g/4a), due to family commitments…the Johnnies have now outshot the opposition 125-62 in their last three games (0-1-2 record) but have scored only seven goals.

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