NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's hockey team gained a split of its weekend series with No. 4/5-ranked St. Norbert College with a 3-2 victory on Saturday at St. Olaf Ice Arena.
Sophomore
Connor McNaughton tallied the game-winning goal early in the third period before St. Olaf (3-1-0) held off St. Norbert (2-2-0) late to claim a split after the Green Knights took Friday night's game by a 4-2 score. The win marked the second year in a row the Oles topped a St. Norbert team ranked in the top five nationally. The Green Knights were ranked No. 4 by USCHO.com and No. 5 by D-III Hockey News this week.
Prior to the game, St. Olaf held a ceremonial puck drop to honor the 2006 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championship team, which was also recognized on the ice at the first intermission. The program also unveiled a Champions Wall in St. Olaf Ice Arena prior to the game.
Calvin Hanson gave the visitors an early lead by scoring the lone goal of the opening period 4:25 in. St. Olaf tied the game at 8:31 of the second period when senior
Joey Kennelly lifted in a rebound after first year
Nayan Pai got to the rebound off his own shot for a second effort that resulted in a loose puck in front.
Sophomore
Connor Jensen gave the Oles their first lead of the game less than three minutes later with his second collegiate goal. Senior
Tony Leahy started the play by getting the puck back to junior
Nick Hatton at the left point. Hatton slid the puck across to the right point to Jensen, who scored through a screen in front to put St. Olaf up 2-1 at the second intermission.
Logan Dombrowsky's goal 5:28 into the third period tied the game at 2-2, but McNaughton got the eventual game-winner 43 seconds later for his fifth goal in four games this season. After senior
Michael Webster lifted the puck off the glass and out of the Oles' defensive zone, junior
Adam Johnson outskated two Green Knights and got the puck in front for McNaughton to poke it home.
Sophomore
Ryan Nolan made the lead hold up, saving all nine shots St. Norbert got on goal after McNaughton's goal, two of which came in the final 15 seconds. Nolan finished with 39 saves after making 13 stops in each period in a game where St. Olaf was outshot by a 41-21 margin. The Oles killed off all three of their penalties and were scoreless on their lone power play.
St. Olaf will hit the road for two games at UW-Stevens Point on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14. Puck drop for Friday night's game is at 7 p.m. at K.B. Willett Arena.
