University of St. Thomas Athletics
2-5-3, 1-2-2
Bowling Green
5-3-1, 2-0-1
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Tommies earn 2-2 draw with Bowling Green
11/15/2024 11:58:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN. – The University of St. Thomas men's hockey team was looking to get another weekend of Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play. After leading for two periods, it looked like the Tommies would leave Saint Thomas Ice Arena with their second conference win of the 2024-25 season against Bowling Green. A late goal by the Falcons, though, resulted in a 2-2 draw, and Bowling Green would claim the extra point in a shootout. With the tie, St. Thomas is now 2-5-3 overall and 1-2-2 in CCHA play.
RECAP:
It took all of 3:30 seconds for the Tommies to score the first goal of the game. Though it wasn't the prettiest goal scored in Saint Thomas Ice Arena, Matthew Gleason (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall) gave St. Thomas the early 1-0 lead, with an assist credited to Cooper Gay (Hanover, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret's). However, as the Tommies continued to pepper Falcons starting netminder Cole Moore with shots, their efforts were hindered by penalties, as Cole Miller (Littleton, Colo. / Olentangy) was called for roughing midway through the first period.
St. Thomas starting goalie Jake Sibell (Isanti, Minn. / Cambridge-Isanti) held strong through the Tommies first penalty kill, preserving the 1-0 lead. However, with the two teams deadlocked in 4x4 hockey, Lucas Wahlin (Woodbury, Minn. / Hill-Murray) was called for slashing in the defensive zone, and Bowling Green opted to take the penalty shot rather than a 4x3 advantage. Brett Pfoh, unfortunately, did not miss, knotting the game at 1-1 with under five minutes remaining.
After spending most of the first period at even strength or on the kill, St. Thomas had an opportunity to regain its lead in the closing minutes of the period, as Bowling Green took a penalty for hitting from behind with 1:01 on the clock. While the Tommies were able to capitalize in the closing seconds of the first, they made it count to open the second. Gay tipped in a laser slapshot by Chase Foley (Mendota Heights, Minn. / Saint Thomas Academy) with seven seconds left on the power play, securing a 2-1 advantage for St. Thomas.
That lead held for the remainder of the second period, as the Tommies opened the final 20 minutes of play with a one goal advantage. For the first 10 minutes of the final frame, it looked like that would be enough for Sibell and Co., who held the Falcons offense at bay. However, at 11:18 in the period, Bowling Green scored the equalizer, as Breck McKinley snuck one past Sibell to tie things at 2-2.
Neither St. Thomas nor the Falcons could come up with the game winner in the final few minutes of play, and the Tommies were forced to play in their second consecutive overtime game. The extra five minutes still wasn't enough to crown a victory, though St. Thomas had several grade A chances to score the go ahead and game winning goal. Moore came up with every stop, as did Sibell, resulting in the 2-2 draw after 65 minutes of play.
With the score still knotted, the two teams went to a shootout to determine who would win the extra point in CCHA play. Both the Tommies and Falcons missed their first two shots, and Wahlin gave St. Thomas a 1-0 lead in the third round, pushing the puck past a diving Moore in the shootout. However, Bowling Green responded with a goal of its own, tying things at 1-1. The Tommies missed on their two ensuing possessions, and the Falcons connected in the fifth round, securing the shootout win for Bowling Green.
TOMMIE TIDBITS
St. Thomas is currently 1-2-2 on Fridays this season, with its lone win coming in the CCHA opener against Augustana on November 1. The Tommies are 1-2-1 in Saturday games this year, and 0-1-0 in games played on Sundays.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas will host Bowling Green in the second of the two game home series on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Saint Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
