St. Norbert Sweeps Lawrence to Advance in NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, February 22, 2020 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College used a pair of goals late in the second period to pull away and defeat Lawrence University 5-2 in the second game of a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Playoffs Quarterfinals Series at Cornerstone Community Center.

The Green Knights (17-8-2), who won the series opener 8-2, advance to play Marian University at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 at Blue Line Family Ice Center in Fond du Lac in a semifinal game of the Harris Cup Playoffs.

The victory also moved Tim Coghlin into 14th place all-time in NCAA hockey coaching victories regardless of division with 595 wins. Coghlin moved past former New Hampshire coach Dick Umile with the win after passing longtime Denver coach George Gwozdecky for 15th place on the list in the first game of the series.

St. Norbert and Lawrence were tangled in a 1-1 tie until Brendan Aird scored a power-play goal at 18:17 of the second period. The Green Knights doubled their lead when Chase Mickelson's drive from the high point was redirected in by Steven Mather for a 3-1 edge at 19:20.

The Green Knights continued to pull away when Peyton Frantti scored his 14th goal of the season at 3:17 of the third period. Lawrence got a goal from Brandon Halvorsen at 10:09, but the Green Knights salted the game away when Luke Davison found an empty net with a shot from the defensive blue line with 1:20 remaining.

Following a scoreless first period, the Green Knights got on the board when Peter Bates scored his 15th goal of the season on a wraparound chance at 4:38. Lawrence tied the game moments later when Evan Ketner scored a power-play goal 34 seconds later.

Bates had an assist to finish with a two-point night. Tim Nicksick, Keenan Spillum and Kurt Black all had two assists apiece to post multi-point games.

St. Norbert outshot Lawrence 51-23. Colby Entz made 21 saves for the Green Knights, while Evan Cline made 46 stops for the Vikings.

The Green Knights were 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Vikings were 1-for-4.