Boyd's Overtime Goal Lifts St. Norbert Past St. Mary's

From Sports Information Director, January 11, 2008 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GREEN BAY - Matt Boyd's breakaway goal midway through overtime lifted St. Norbert College to a 3-2 overtime win over St. Mary's University in a non-conference game at the Cornerstone Community Center. The Green Knights, ranked No. 1 in Division III, are 14-1-1 and are unbeaten in their last 13 games. St. Mary's fell to 5-6-2.

Boyd got behind the St. Mary's defense at the blueline and broke in on Cardinals' goaltender Dan Smith after taking a pass from Cory Harder. After Smith went for the initial deke, Boyd followed with St. Norbert's first overtime game-winner at home since Feb. 7, 2003.

Neither team scored in a very lethargic first period, when St. Norbert held a scant 4-1 shots advantage. The Green Knights went ahead 2-0 with two power-player markers in the second period. Boyd scored at 7:06 of the second for the game's first score, and Marc Belanger scored at 9:19 for a 2-0 advantage.

St. Mary's got back into the game when it cashed in twice on a 5-on-3 power play. The Cardinals Jesse Polk scored at 11:10 of the third, and Jeff Miller added the equalizer 1:33 later. St. Norbert would have a power play late in the third period but didn't score. The Green Knights outshot St. Mary's 16-3 in the third but were outscored 2-0.

St. Norbert was 2-for-10 on the power play, and got three total points from Boyd (two goals, one assist). Blake Bashor made eight saves for the Green Knights, who outshot St. Mary's 34-10.

The Cardinals were 2-for-6 on the power play and got 31 saves from Smith in the loss.