STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The St. Olaf College men's hockey team dropped its non-conference series opener to UW-Stevens Point by a 3-2 score after the Pointers scored in the opening minute of overtime on Friday night at K.B. Willett Arena.
After St. Olaf (3-2-0) tied the game on a power-play goal with 4:59 to go in the third, UW-Stevens Point got a power play with 1:07 remaining in regulation and scored seconds after the penalty expired in overtime to win it. The Pointers are 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings in the series since the Oles' last win on Nov. 8, 2014, although the last three meetings have all gone to overtime and/or a shootout.
The two teams combined for just five shots on goal in the opening period before senior
Tyler Green opened the scoring for St. Olaf at 7:47 of the second. The senior shoveled in a backhand for his second goal of the season after sophomore
Connor Jensen set up senior
Michael Webster for a shot that produced a rebound for Green.
UW-Stevens Point responded with a power-play goal from Aiden Moser with 1:20 to go in the second to tie it at 1-1 after two. After Joseph Macchione put the Pointers on top at 2:59 of the third, the hosts held onto that lead until the Oles cashed in on their lone power play of the game through junior
Nicholas Sewecke's first goal of the season at 4:59. Sophomores
Hunter Hayes and
Connor McNaughton combined to get the puck to Sewecke in front for the tying goal.
St. Olaf was assessed a high-sticking penalty with 1:07 remaining in the third but held UW-Stevens Point without a shot on goal for the entire power play before the Pointers scored seconds after it expired. Nico Chmelevski got the game-winner with a one-timer from low on the right side to give the hosts the win.
Sophomore
Ryan Nolan made 22 saves in the loss for the Oles, while Ryan Maguire had 14 in the win for the Pointers. The two teams combined for just four penalties in the game.
The series finale between the two teams is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 back at K.B. Willett Arena.
