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Men's hockey slips in heartbreaker to Saint John's

Mike Cassano
February 3, 2003

St. Olaf met league leading Saint John's in a weekend series. The Oles got off to a quick start, but lost the home game in a heartbreaker 5-4 on Friday night.

On Friday night the Oles jumped out to a quick lead when Keith Townsend (So., Sterling Heights, Mich.) snipped a shot over the Saint John's goalie. Townsend came down the right side, cut to the middle and roofed it for his 11th goal of the year. At the first break, the Oles led 1-0.

The Johnnies were held scoreless until the second when they put two past goalie Dan Kehler (FY, Woodbury Park, Minn.). Late in the second period, Nick Hanson (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) tied the game up on the power play. Hanson found the loose puck in front of the net and drilled it in, to tie the game 2-2 at the end of the second period.

Saint John's took advantage in the final period. The Johnnies scored 17 seconds into the period, and two more times in the next five minutes to take a 5-2 lead. The Oles battled back, scoring midway through the period when First Year Ron Guild (FY, Kent, Wash.) put the puck past the goalie. Joel Ihrie (FY, Woodinville, WA) got his second assist of the game on the goal. Minutes later Ihrie would help out on another goal, feeding Townsend again on a similar play. Down by only one goal, the Oles scrambled to get everything at the Saint John's net, but came up short. Kehler played well in the net by making 40 saves in the game. The Oles will meet Saint John's again on Saturday, February 1st at 7:00 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.

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