Green Knights Charge Back at St. Scholastica

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 31, 2020 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DULUTH, Minn. - St. Norbert College came all the way back from a three-goal deficit with a hard-fought 5-4 win over College of St. Scholastica in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association game at Mars Lakeview Arena.

The Green Knights (11-8-2, 9-6-2 NCHA), now 9-1-2 in their last 12 games, found themselves behind 4-1 just 1:20 into the second period.

St. Norbert immediately responded, pulling to within one goal in the next 182 seconds. Captain Jack Thomas posted his first goal of the season at 2:41, followed by Max Brainin's marker - his second of the year - at 4:22. The Green Knights kept at it and eventually tied the score at 9:15 of the second period on Keegan Milligan's second goal of the season. St. Norbert took the lead at 16:58 of the second period on Michael McChesney's second goal of the season.

McChesney's goal would hold up through a scoreless third period, thanks to a stellar long-relief outing by goaltender Ryan Bontorin. Bontorin finished with 17 saves in 38:40 of work, and stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period. St. Scholastica had 1:54 of extra-attacker time late in the game but did not score.

St. Scholastica took a 2-0 lead just 77 seconds into the game on goals by Nate Pionk at 0:50 and Max Mettler at 1:17. Peter Bates would score his 13th goal of the season at 15:57 to bring St. Norbert to within 2-1, but the Saints' Bradley Golant potted a goal at 19:28 for a 3-1 edge at first intermission.

The Saints would take a 4-1 lead on Zack DeBoom's goal at 1:20 of the second period, which chased St. Norbert starting goaltender Colby Entz, who made nine saves in 21:20 of work.

A total of 11 skaters ended up on the scoresheet for St. Norbert, with Bates and McChesney adding assists for two-point games. Steven Mather and Mitchell Zambon both had two assists.

St. Norbert outshot St. Scholastica 38-30. Jack Branby made 33 svaes for the Saints, who were 0-for-3 on the power play. St. Norbert was 0-for-1 with the man advantage.