University of St. Thomas Athletics
Thursday, January 20
Mendota Heights, Minn.
7:07 p.m.
2-23-0, 2-17-0
1
vs
5
Minnesota State
22-5-0, 16-3-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota St.
0
2
3
5
St. Thomas (MN)
1
0
0
1
Team Stats
MSU
UST
Shots
34
13
PPG
2
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
5
Penalty Mins
12
10
Faceoffs Won
39
25
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
-3
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Hockey
Men's Hockey keeps moving the needle, but falls 5-1 to No. 2 Mavericks
1/20/2022 10:27:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Mendota Heights, Minn. -- No. 2-ranked Minnesota State scored twice in a 60-second span in the third period to break open a close contest and go on to record a 5-1 road victory over the host Tommies in CCHA men's hockey play Thursday night before a crowd just shy of 700.
The Mavericks (22-5 overall, 16-3 MIAC) received their five goals from five different players. They trailed 1-0 after one period but went ahead to stay on two goals posted over a 3:01 span of period two.
St. Thomas senior goalie Jacob Berger stopped 29 of 34 shots against his former team. The Toms trailed just 2-1 through the game's first 49 minutes -- a dramatic turnaround from Nov. 18 and 20 games against Minnesota State where the Purple lost 9-0 and 5-0 and were outshot a combined 71-22 over both nights.
After a scoreless opening 17:00, which saw MSU outshoot the Toms 11-0, senior Joey Sofo scored his first goal of the season late in the frame for the Tommies (2-23, 2-17). But that's all the MSU standout goalie Dryden McKay would allow as he stopped 12 shots overall. The Mavs rank second among the 59 Division I hockey teams in fewest goals allowed per game at 1.30.
Coach Rico Blasi agreed that this likely was St. Thomas' most complete performance of the season as his team hung around for so long with the talented and experienced Mavericks.
"I thought we competed really hard," Blasi said. "We forced them to earn everything they got. We fell asleep a couple of minutes in the second period, and a couple minutes in the third period, but I thought we played in stretches some of our best hockey all year. You can't give the No. 1 team in the country six power plays, they will bury you at some point. You can't turn the puck over and the little details when you play a team like that, they're going to make you pay for it.
"We have to correct some detail stuff. We played good team defense, and (Jacob) Berger made some big saves. But that's a really good team over there. I thought the first time we played them we really took it to us. I thought tonight they had to earn it. Our guys are upset that we lost, but they know we played hard tonight. They know at some point it's going to click. I thought tonight for stretches we were making plays. We want to make sure we play the game the right way."
Blasi said the Toms had some scoring chances when the game was at 2-1 but were unable to capitalize.
"I thought we had some good looks throughout the game. But we left a lot of pucks in front of (their) net, especially in that third period and on the power play. It's there, we just have to make sure we're a little more determined. We still lost, they doubled us on shots. But I thought we played a lot harder and played a lot more determined than the first time (we played them), and that's the growth in our program I think. As we continue to move our program forward, that's what you want to see."
In St. Thomas' last six games, that have played opponents to a combined 9-9 score through two periods. But they have been outscored 13-2 in the third period or overtime, although two goals allowed were empty-netters. Blasi said the team is gaining confidence.
"I think we're a little bit more determined with our mindset before we step onto the ice," he explained. "That allows you to stay focused. We're not doing things we did early in the year when we would just blow up. We're still an inexperienced team. We played a team (tonight) that has that many more games played in high-pressure situations, and they know how to stay consistent and patient, and that's what they did tonight."
The two teams close out the regular-season series on Saturday at Mankato's Blakeslee Stadium in a 4:30 p.m. clash that's televised live on Bally Sports North as part of Hockey Day Minnesota.
"We're grateful to be part of (the Hockey Day Minnesota celebration), and we're going to enjoy the experience. We're going to play hard and we'll see what happens."
The Mavericks (22-5 overall, 16-3 MIAC) received their five goals from five different players. They trailed 1-0 after one period but went ahead to stay on two goals posted over a 3:01 span of period two.
St. Thomas senior goalie Jacob Berger stopped 29 of 34 shots against his former team. The Toms trailed just 2-1 through the game's first 49 minutes -- a dramatic turnaround from Nov. 18 and 20 games against Minnesota State where the Purple lost 9-0 and 5-0 and were outshot a combined 71-22 over both nights.
After a scoreless opening 17:00, which saw MSU outshoot the Toms 11-0, senior Joey Sofo scored his first goal of the season late in the frame for the Tommies (2-23, 2-17). But that's all the MSU standout goalie Dryden McKay would allow as he stopped 12 shots overall. The Mavs rank second among the 59 Division I hockey teams in fewest goals allowed per game at 1.30.
Coach Rico Blasi agreed that this likely was St. Thomas' most complete performance of the season as his team hung around for so long with the talented and experienced Mavericks.
"I thought we competed really hard," Blasi said. "We forced them to earn everything they got. We fell asleep a couple of minutes in the second period, and a couple minutes in the third period, but I thought we played in stretches some of our best hockey all year. You can't give the No. 1 team in the country six power plays, they will bury you at some point. You can't turn the puck over and the little details when you play a team like that, they're going to make you pay for it.
"We have to correct some detail stuff. We played good team defense, and (Jacob) Berger made some big saves. But that's a really good team over there. I thought the first time we played them we really took it to us. I thought tonight they had to earn it. Our guys are upset that we lost, but they know we played hard tonight. They know at some point it's going to click. I thought tonight for stretches we were making plays. We want to make sure we play the game the right way."
Blasi said the Toms had some scoring chances when the game was at 2-1 but were unable to capitalize.
"I thought we had some good looks throughout the game. But we left a lot of pucks in front of (their) net, especially in that third period and on the power play. It's there, we just have to make sure we're a little more determined. We still lost, they doubled us on shots. But I thought we played a lot harder and played a lot more determined than the first time (we played them), and that's the growth in our program I think. As we continue to move our program forward, that's what you want to see."
In St. Thomas' last six games, that have played opponents to a combined 9-9 score through two periods. But they have been outscored 13-2 in the third period or overtime, although two goals allowed were empty-netters. Blasi said the team is gaining confidence.
"I think we're a little bit more determined with our mindset before we step onto the ice," he explained. "That allows you to stay focused. We're not doing things we did early in the year when we would just blow up. We're still an inexperienced team. We played a team (tonight) that has that many more games played in high-pressure situations, and they know how to stay consistent and patient, and that's what they did tonight."
The two teams close out the regular-season series on Saturday at Mankato's Blakeslee Stadium in a 4:30 p.m. clash that's televised live on Bally Sports North as part of Hockey Day Minnesota.
"We're grateful to be part of (the Hockey Day Minnesota celebration), and we're going to enjoy the experience. We're going to play hard and we'll see what happens."
Press Conference: Rico Blasi January 27th 2025
Monday, January 27
St. Thomas Men's Hockey 2023-24 Intro Video
Friday, October 27
Rico Blasi Pre-Season Press Conference, September 26th, 2022
Friday, October 21
Rico Blasi Press Conference October 3rd
Friday, October 21
