University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, February 11
Mendota Heights, Minn.
6:07 p.m. Central
9-19-2, 8-12-2
4
vs
2
Northern Michigan
14-16-0, 10-12-0
1
2
3
F
Northern Mich.
0
1
1
2
St. Thomas (MN)
1
1
2
4
Photo by: Rebecca Twite
No. 11 to the rescue: late tie-breaking goal lifts Men's Hockey
2/11/2023 8:54:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Mendota Heights, Minn. -- Freshman Ryan O'Neill ended a goal-scoring drought in a big way Saturday night at Saint Thomas Ice Arena. O'Neill's top-shelf shot found the back of the net with 2:04 left in regulation time to snap a 2-2 tie and help the Purple take a 4-2 victory over Northern Michigan for a split of their weekend series.
St. Thomas freshman Josh Eernisse scored goals in each of the first two periods for a 2-0 lead, and freshman goalie Aaron Trotter stopped 21 of 23 shots to help snap a two-game Tommie losing streak.
The Tommies (9-19-2 overall, 8-12-2 CCHA) never trailed, but they didn't put away the game until Mack Byers empty-net goal with :01 remaining. Trailing 2-0, NMU scored with 39 seconds left in period two, and later tied the game midway through the third frame.
This marks the seventh CCHA weekend series in a row where the Tommies took at least one point. After a 2-12 start, they are 7-7-2 over their last 14 contests. Coach Rico Blasi's team improved to 8-1-1 this season in games when they allow two or fewer goals.
O'Neill scored two goals in his first six college games last October, then had a 23-game drought without a goal. That streak ended with Saturday's game-winner. The newcomer has contributed in many ways including chipping in 13 of his team-best 16 assists over the last 24 contests.
Northern Michigan goalie Beni Halasz had 29 saves in Friday's 3-0 shutout win. On Saturday, he stopped 30 of 33 shots in another strong performance. The Wildcats (14-16, 10-12) sit one point ahead of the Tommies in sixth place with four games left in the regular season.
Quoting Coach Rico Blasi
"We played better tonight. I thought we were more engaged and committed to battles. We knew they were going to push, that's what good teams do. You just have to stay focused and stay in the game. At this time of the year, these are the kind of games you are going to be in. Good or bad, for whatever reason, we're accustomed to these one-goal games that go right down to the wire, our guys are comfortable (in these).
"That was a great play by Ryan (O'Neill) at the end... When you are a point-getter like (Ryan), that (goal drought) really weighs on you. He's been trying to find his game and trying to do other things. (That can be) frustrating for those guys, but he stuck with it and tonight he was rewarded.
"(Aaron) Trotter made some big saves for us, and we got the last bounce, so we move on.
"We were tighter (with our assignments), we were more committed, we battled. That's the way we have to play. That's our identity."
Next Up
St. Thomas travels to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., next weekend for Friday-Saturday games against Lake Superior State.
Did You Know?
St. Thomas freshman Josh Eernisse scored goals in each of the first two periods for a 2-0 lead, and freshman goalie Aaron Trotter stopped 21 of 23 shots to help snap a two-game Tommie losing streak.
The Tommies (9-19-2 overall, 8-12-2 CCHA) never trailed, but they didn't put away the game until Mack Byers empty-net goal with :01 remaining. Trailing 2-0, NMU scored with 39 seconds left in period two, and later tied the game midway through the third frame.
This marks the seventh CCHA weekend series in a row where the Tommies took at least one point. After a 2-12 start, they are 7-7-2 over their last 14 contests. Coach Rico Blasi's team improved to 8-1-1 this season in games when they allow two or fewer goals.
O'Neill scored two goals in his first six college games last October, then had a 23-game drought without a goal. That streak ended with Saturday's game-winner. The newcomer has contributed in many ways including chipping in 13 of his team-best 16 assists over the last 24 contests.
Northern Michigan goalie Beni Halasz had 29 saves in Friday's 3-0 shutout win. On Saturday, he stopped 30 of 33 shots in another strong performance. The Wildcats (14-16, 10-12) sit one point ahead of the Tommies in sixth place with four games left in the regular season.
Quoting Coach Rico Blasi
"We played better tonight. I thought we were more engaged and committed to battles. We knew they were going to push, that's what good teams do. You just have to stay focused and stay in the game. At this time of the year, these are the kind of games you are going to be in. Good or bad, for whatever reason, we're accustomed to these one-goal games that go right down to the wire, our guys are comfortable (in these).
"That was a great play by Ryan (O'Neill) at the end... When you are a point-getter like (Ryan), that (goal drought) really weighs on you. He's been trying to find his game and trying to do other things. (That can be) frustrating for those guys, but he stuck with it and tonight he was rewarded.
"(Aaron) Trotter made some big saves for us, and we got the last bounce, so we move on.
"We were tighter (with our assignments), we were more committed, we battled. That's the way we have to play. That's our identity."
Next Up
St. Thomas travels to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., next weekend for Friday-Saturday games against Lake Superior State.
Did You Know?
- St. Thomas took its first win in four tries against Northern Michigan. The Toms have at least one win or tie over all seven CCHA opponents.
- The Toms' nine season wins has already tripled their 2021-22 season victory total.
- The Purple have led, been tied or within one goal in the third period of 23 of their 30 games so far.
- In his last eight CCHA games, all since the holiday break, Trotter is 4-3-1 in net with a .925 save percentage.
Team Stats
NMU
UST
Shots
23
34
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
3
Penalty Mins
13
6
Faceoffs Won
27
31
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
1
Goals
2
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
F
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