Last weekend, the LU hockey team took the ice against Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday and St. Olaf College on Sunday. Both schools compete in the traditionally powerful Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and currently hold spots in the top half of said division.
In Saturday’s contest Andrew Isaac recorded a solid game in the crease, stopping 33 of 39 shots. The scoring started in the opening stanza with Gustavus netting the first goal. Gustavus struck first in the second as well but was answered with an LU goal from Mason Oakes, assisted by Joe Searl and Ted Greeley. The Vikes added another from Blake Royle, making it a 2-2 tie. By the end of the first two periods, the Gusties had reclaimed the lead and would add 2 more in the third to take the W, 5-2. “[In this game] we found that we can definitely play with the best teams,” said sophomore defenseman Josh Peterson. “We just weren’t able to perform for the entire 60 minutes.”
Isaac started against St. Olaf on Sunday as well and once again saw a lot of action, saving 38 of 44 shots. The Oles scored 2 goals in the first period, one of which was on the power play. Junior captain Joe Searl put one in early in the second period with the assist coming from Pete Mossberg. Olaf would record one more before the end of 40 minutes of play.
In the third, Neil Wallace scored from Peterson and Oakes to bring the Vikes within 1, but St. Olaf rallied to score 3 unanswered goals and finish the game with a 6-2 win. “It was obvious we can play at this level of competition, but right now a lot of the younger guys are really starting to get in stride, and when they do, we’re going to have a great team,” said defenseman Joe McDonald.
The Vikes will compete in an away-and-home series this weekend with Marian College. After playing Friday night in Fond du Lac, the Sabres will visit the Appleton Family Ice Center at 7:00 on Saturday.
Hockey toughs it out in MN
