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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's hockey team headed into Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Augsburg having scored just two goals in their two-game conference series against league-leading St. Thomas last weekend.
Augsburg, meanwhile, managed just three goals in its two games vs. Saint John's.
In the first 20 minutes Friday at Ed Saugestad Arena, the two teams had already combined for nine goals.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the Auggies doing the majority of the scoring, as Augsburg accounted for six of the first period's nine goals in handing SMU a 7-3 setback at Ed Saugestad Rink.
"it was disappointing that we just couldn't overcome the slow start," said SMU coach
Bill Moore. "We just weren't able to get enough traffic in front of their goal.
"That's what happens when you give a team that only has one (conference) win a little momentum — they gained some confidence and played a very good game."
The Auggies didn't waste any time kicking off the scoring fest, as Ben McClellan beat SMU goalie
Andy Scheib (Sun Prairie, Wis.) just 44 seconds into the opening period.
And by the time the horn sounded to end the first period, the two teams had added eight more goals — SMU's coming from
Kevin Wentland (Columbia Heights, Minn.),
Ryan Griffiths (Arvada, Colo.) and Tommy Roboczewski (Arlington Heights, Ill.).
Griffiths' tally gave SMU a 2-1 advantage, but Augsburg answered 44 seconds later to make it 2-2. Roboczewski netted his second of the season to put the Cardinals back out in front, 3-2, but Augsburg would score four unanswered goals before the period ended, giving the Auggies a 6-3 advantage.
After a scoreless second period, the Auggies pushed their advantage to 7-3 on a B.J. McClellan empty net goal with 1:20 remaining.
The Cardinals, who fall to 5-3-1 in conference play and 7-10-1 overall, get another shot at the Auggies on Saturday, as SMU hosts Augsburg in the conference rematch at 7:30 p.m. at the SMU Ice Arena.
