Sophomore forward Carter Krenke scored with 1:36 remaining on Saturday, Nov. 14, but Saint John’s hockey fell 6-5 in overtime to No. 15 Wisconsin-River Falls.
The Johnnies dropped to a 3-2-1 overall record after Luke Margenau tallied the game-winner for UWRF with 1:37 left of the 3-on-3 overtime, according to Saint John’s University Athletics. Saint John’s pulled freshman goaltender Hunter Bauer for an extra skater with two minutes left, enabling Krenke to toe-drag through defenders and score on a backhand.
Wisconsin-River Falls improved to 6-0-0 overall as Margenau converted a one-timer from the slot under the crossbar off a pass.
Saint John’s outshot the Falcons 47-36 while both teams converted 50 percent of their power-play opportunities. Ben Portner opened the scoring for Wisconsin-River Falls with a power-play goal 7:14 into the contest. Senior forward Logan Lyke tied the game 1-1 with his third goal in as many games following traffic generated by freshman defenseman Joe Luger and junior forward Jordan Newpower.
Wisconsin-River Falls answered 11 seconds later on a neutral-zone turnover and breakaway.
Sophomore forward Jordan Larkee knotted the score 2-2 with a power-play tally two seconds before the first intermission, cleaning up a rebound after a point shot from junior defenseman George Moore III and senior forward Luke Levandowski. Senior forward Cam Boche gave the Johnnies a 3-2 lead at 11:41 of the second period off a feed from Krenke.
Another Falcons power-play goal tied the game 3-3 with 2:01 remaining in the middle frame. Newpower put Saint John’s ahead 4-3 early in the third period before Wisconsin-River Falls responded with two goals, including one from Keenan Ingram. Bauer recorded 30 saves in his first collegiate start and appearance in net.
The Johnnies begin Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play by hosting Concordia-Moorhead at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Concordia-Moorhead enters the matchup with a 1-2-0 overall record.
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