You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Men's hockey split weekend series with St. Thomas

Mike Cassano
January 22, 2003

The St. Olaf men's hockey team picked up right where they left off a week ago, playing great hockey. The Oles got a split with MIAC leading St. Thomas, with a tough 3-0 loss at home on Friday night. Game two on Saturday night featured a 8-4 Ole win, the first time the Oles have beat the Tommies in 11 years.

The Oles lost the first game at home 3-0. The Tommies got on the board in the first period when they deflected a pass in the slot over Kehler's glove. The game remained at 1-0 through out the next two periods. Both teams had great scoring chances, but were shut down by spectacular goaltending.

The Tommies closed out the contest when they scored with just two minutes remaining in the game. St. Thomas put home an empty net goal to chalk up a 3-0 win. This was only the second time the Oles have been defeated at home this season.

Saturday night, the team knew a road win help with their chances of making the playoffs. The Oles came out quickly and scored within the first two minutes of the game. On the power play, Joel Ihrie (FY, Woodinville, WA.) got a pass out in front and ripped it past the Thomas goalie. Ten minutes later, Dana Quinn (So.,Madison, WI) tucked home a rebound that was left loose in the slot. Junior Wally Cisewski gave the Oles a three-goal lead when he scored his third goal of the season. The Tommies would get one goal on the power play to end the first period.

The Oles continued to roll in the second period, matching St. Thomas in every category. Cisewski would get his second of the game, ripping a shot in the net, over the goalies head. St. Olaf took a 4-2 lead into the final period.

Six goals were scored in the final 20 minutes of play. Keith Townsend (So., Sterling Heights, MI) got the Oles started when he cut across the net and put home a backhand goal. Next junior Jess Martin got his third of the season while teams were playing four aside. Martin broke in on the goalie and lifted a backhand over his blocker. St. Thomas answered bringing the score to 6-4. Dan Norsten (Jr., Eagan, MN) picked off a pass six seconds later and went in on a breakaway. He shot five hole giving the Oles a 7-4 lead. Not to be outdone by his twin brother, Case Martin scored the final goal of the game when he put a puck in the net that slipped past the goalie.

Goaltender Dan Kehler (FY, Woodbury, MN) played both games in the net. The win put the Oles in fourth place in the MIAC. They are at home this weekend against Augsburg College, Friday night Jan. 24th at 8:00 p.m.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.