An early goal set the stage, as Ben Perkins put in his own rebound just
1:22 into the game to stake Crookston to the early 1-0 lead. That advantage held
up until the third period, as both goalies held throughout the rest of the first
and the second periods. The Golden Eagles would be the next to break through,
scoring at the 8:33 mark of the third. A late empty-netter from Perkins provided
the last score. Crookston goalie Erik Kraska was up to the task, stopping
all 31 shots the Sabres sent his way, as the sophomore netminder earned MCHA
Tournament MVP honors for the second straight season, earning his first shut-out
of the year in the process. Sabre goalie Terry Dunbar made 19 saves in
defeat, and he was honored with All-Tournament accolades. Joining him from
Marian on the All-Tournament Team was defenseman Mark Williams. Joining
Kraska with All-Tournament honors were teammates Ben Perkins and Mike
Alvestad. The victory gives the Golden Eagles their third overall league
tournament title (2004, 2003, and 2000).
MSOE
Prevails With Third Period Comeback
(Fond du Lac, Wis.) - The MSOE
Raiders came from behind on Sunday afternoon to earn a 3-2 victory over Lawrence
University in the MCHA Consolation Championship at the FDL Blueline Family Ice
Center. It was only appropriate that on leap day (February 29), a game would
feature three different lead changes, with the team ahead on the scoreboard
changing hands at the end of each period.
The Raiders were the first to take the advantage, doing so short-handed in the
first when Joe Swanson scored at the 16:54 mark. It was the only letdown
of the period for Lawrence goalie Andrew Isaac, as he stopped 19 of the
20 shots the Raiders took in the first period alone. The second was all
Lawrence, as they struck fast and furious, getting the equalizer from Mike
Burkhart and the 2-1 lead on a goal from Evan Thornton all within the
first 3:47 of the period, as the Viking goals were scored just 1:59 apart. The
Raiders went back on the offensive in the third, out-shooting Lawrence 14-9 in
the frame and 40-22 in the contest, getting the tying goal at the 2:28 mark of
the period and the game-winner just a few minutes later from Joe Swanson - again
coming short-handed. Lawrence made it interesting at the end, almost converting
in the final seconds of the game before MSOE held on for the 3-2 victory. Raider
goalie Josh Rudolph got his first win of the season in his first start,
making 20 saves. His counterpart Andrew Isaac made 37 saves in defeat. Leading
point scorers for MSOE included Swanson with two (2G), Rob Kaufman with
two (1G/1A), and Jacob Basten with two on two helpers. Burkhart (1G/1A)
and Pete Mossberg (2A) paced Lawrence on offense.
Marian
College Will Battle for MCHA's Harris Cup
(Fond du Lac, Wis.) - The
Marian College hockey team will battle for Harris Cup in the MCHA Tournament
Championship, earning a trip to the contest with a 5-1 victory over Lawrence
University at the Fond du Lac Blueline Family Ice Center on Saturday (February
28) night. The Sabres scored the first three goals of the game to open things
up, letting their power-play do the work for them. Marian went 3-for-3 on the
night with the man-advantage, while killing all seven power play opportunities
the Vikings had in front of a vocal home crowd. The win improves the Sabres
record to 17-9-0 on the season, as they won the eighth time in their last nine
outings. The Vikings fall to 4-22-1 overall. As a result, Marian will be making
their fifth straight appearance in the conference championship.
The Sabres got on the board at the 7:31 mark of the first, scoring when Chad
Little redirected a Mark Williams shot in front of the goal to record
his tenth of the season on Marian's first power play opportunity. Late in the
period, Andy Allen made it 2-for-2 on the power play, as he tallied the
eventual game-winner at the 17:48 mark. The Sabres would up their lead to 3-0
before Lawrence would break through, making the lead 3-1. Marian would let their
special teams close out the frame, as Adrian Chubaty notched his second
goal of the season to give the home team the 4-1 advantage heading into the
third. Lawrence went on to out-shoot the Sabres 11-7 in the final period, but
goalie Terry Dunbar was up to the task, stopping all of the Vikings shots
in the third en route to 26 saves in the game. Marian closed out the scoring in
the game on a short-handed tally from senior Mark Ewing, who was making
his first appearance in just short of a month, returning from injury with a goal
and an assist in the game. Freshman Ryan Stattner also had two points
(1G/1A), while teammate Mark Williams led the way with three points in the game
- all on assists - as the Sabres beat the Vikings for the fourth straight time
in the head-to-head series.
Minnesota-Crookston
Comes Back for 4-3 Victory
-Information courtesy of
Minnesota-Crookston Sports Information
(Fond du Lac, Wis.) - Mike Alvestad scored two goals, including the
unassisted game winner with 2:28 left in the game to give the Golden Eagles the
4-3 win over MSOE on Saturday in MCHA semi-final action. The Golden Eagles had a
2-0 lead but fell behind 3-2 early in the third period before scoring two goals
to get the win. The Golden Eagles now advance to the MCHA Championship game,
their fifth straight appearance in the conference finale.
Mike Alvestad's unassisted power-play goal scored in the first period put
the Golden Eagles up 1-0 after the first period. Brock Anundson scored on
a slap shot to put the Golden Eagles up 2-0. Ben Perkins was awarded the
assist with 17:52 left in the second period.
MSOE scored their third unanswered goal with 14:23 left in the game to take a
3-2 lead.
Nate Haskins scored the game tying goal with 6:15 left in the game. He
was assisted by Shawn Carlson, his third of the game. Alvestad scored the
game winning goal - his second of the day - to give the Golden Eagles a birth in
the MCHA Championship game Sunday.
Lawrence
Advances in MCHA Qualifier
(Fond du Lac, Wis.) - The
Lawrence University Vikings held off a late Northland College rally on Friday
(February 27) night, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Midwest Collegiate
Hockey Association Tournament with a 5-4 victory at the Fond du Lac Blueline
Family Ice Center. After scoring four unanswered goals in the first and second
to take a commanding 4-1 lead, the Vikings needed 15 saves from their goalie in
the third period alone to advance. Lawrence improves to 4-21-1 on the season
with the win, while the Lumberjacks season concludes at 3-21-2.
Northland struck first, getting on the board on
Cody Hovdestad's ninth goal of the season at the 7:16 mark of the first.
Lawrence turned the tide quickly, scoring the next four goals of the game,
including two from Pete Mossberg. The Lumberjacks wouldn't go quietly, as
they got within two at 4-2 on a short-handed tally from Ryan Potts, his
15th of the season. After recording 15 shots combined in the first two periods,
Northland peppered Lawrence goalie Andrew Isaac with 17 in the third, but
Isaac was up to the task, making 28 saves in the contest. Northland drew within
one at 4-3 at the 4:19 mark of the third, but the Vikings got the eventual
game-winner from Joe Searl with seven minutes remaining. The Lumberjacks
added a late goal after pulling their goalie, but it wasn't enough on this
night, as the Vikings will move on in the tournament.
Lawrence will face the top-seeded Marian College Sabres on Saturday (February
28). That game will be the second of the day, starting at 7:00 PM. The first
contest of the day will see #2 Minnesota-Crookston battle with #3 MSOE, starting
at 3:00 PM at the FDL Blueline Family Ice Center.
