University of St. Thomas Athletics
11-9-3, 8-4-2MIAC
St. Olaf
15-6-2, 11-1-2MIAC
Slow start costs Men's Hockey in 4-2 loss
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
St. Olaf clinched the school's first MIAC men's hockey championship in 70 years with Saturday night's 4-2 win over host St. Thomas in MIAC play in Mendota Heights.
Sophomore goalie Nick Krauss stopped 32 of 34 shots and the visiting Oles (15-6-2 overall, 11-1-2 MIAC) scored four goals in the game's first 23:00 for a 4-0 lead.
St. Thomas (11-9-3, 8-4-2) had a 17-2 advantage in shots on goal in the final 30:00 and a 34-17 margin on the game but couldn't recover from the early hole.
Four different players scored for the No. 15-ranked Oles. Charlie Raskob scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal 5:04 into the game. The Oles made it 2-0 four minutes later on Sam Windsor's goal. With 24 seconds left in the first period, the margin grew to 3-0 as Derek Grogan scored. It was 4-0 just 2:18 into the second period after Britton Smith scored.
UST got power-play goals from A.J. Panchenko and Adam Davis in the second and early-third periods, but couldn't get closer.
St. Olaf becomes the fifth different MIAC men's hockey champion in the last five years. St. John's, St. Thomas, Bethel and Hamline had won the previous four titles.
St. Thomas is tied with Gustavus for second place into the final two games. UST faces Bethel, and Gustavus plays Hamline. All four of those teams are battling for playoff spots or seeds with Augsburg and St. John's.
Click here for box score:
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/boxes/mstostt1.f14
To view more Greg Smith action photos click here: www.gsmithsports.com
Todd Alexander has a big collision in Saturday's game. (Greg Smith Photo)
Adam Davis controls the puck against St. Olaf. (Greg Smith Photo)
Parker Burgess celebrates a goal in Saturday's game. (Greg Smith Photo)
A.J. Panchenko eyes the puck during Saturday's game. (Greg Smith Photo)
Alex Coles battles for the puck against St. Olaf. (Greg Smith Photo)
Alex Arnason ready for action in Saturday's game. (Greg Smith Photo)
Tommies celebrate a goal against St. Olaf. (Greg Smith Photo)
