MOORHEAD, Minn. – For the second consecutive day, the Gustavus men’s hockey team found itself playing an overtime game but fell on the wrong side of a 4-3 decision Saturday afternoon at Concordia. The Gusties drop to 3-17-3 overall and 1-11-2 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers improve to 10-11-2 overall and 7-6-1 in the league.
Concordia got off to a quick start with a pair of goals in the opening four minutes. Gustavus got on the board with 1:34 left in the first, taking advantage of a power play as Brandon Sloth (Fy., Anoka) netted his first career goal with the help of Kyle Heffron (So., Rosemount) and the score remained 2-1 after 20 minutes. The Cobbers controlled the pace of the play in the first, outshooting the Gusties 17-2.
Concordia regained a two-goal lead 3:17 into the second and held that advantage until the 14:44 mark when Micah Gernander (So., Coleraine) scored his third goal of the season, assisted by Heffron and Dylan Gast (Sr., Dellwood). Less than a minute later, Sloth tallied his second power play goal of the day as Heffron picked up a hat trick of assists along with Jack Suchy (So., Medina).
Neither team scored in the third period, but the Cobbers found the back of the net 3:28 into overtime for the golden goal.
Jackson Hjelle (Jr., Delano) suffered the loss in goal after making 37 saves. The Cobbers convincingly outshot the Gusties 41-15. The Gusties went 2-for-7 on the power play and killed all four Cobber advantages.
Gustavus wraps up the season next weekend with a home-home series against St. Olaf. Friday night’s game is in Northfield and the season comes to a close Saturday in Saint Peter.