SAINT PETER, Minn. — What a showdown it was in Don Roberts Ice Rink. The Saint Mary's men's hockey team (6-5-1, 3-2-0) went toe-to-toe with a red-hot Gustavus Adolphus squad Friday night, but the Cardinals came up just short in a heartbreaking 5–4 overtime loss. 

Despite three power-play goals and multiple rallies, Saint Mary's saw the Gusties, winners of seven straight, escape with the victory on an overtime strike.

The Cardinals set the tone early, striking first on the man advantage. Joona Juntunen opened the scoring at 18:35 of the first period, capitalizing on a power play with an unassisted goal to give Saint Mary's the early edge. 

The momentum continued midway through the period when Kyle Arias finished a perfect triangle setup from Paden Hicks and Juntunen at 10:41, doubling the lead and sending the Cardinals into the intermission up 2–0.

Saint Mary's opened the second period by killing off an early penalty, but Gustavus began to tilt the ice. The Gusties cut into the lead at 3:39 and the pressure continued to mount. 

Gustavus evened the score later in the period and then grabbed its first lead of the night on a power-play goal at 2:01. After 40 minutes, Saint Mary's trailed 3–2.

The third period delivered pure chaos. 

Saint Mary's tied the game early on another power play as Juntunen buried his second of the night, 12th of the season, at 14:02, assisted by Hicks and Carter Newpower. Gustavus responded quickly with an even-strength goal from to regain the lead, but the Cardinals refused to fade.

With time winding down, Cooper Smyl answered in clutch fashion, snapping home the equalizer at 4:28 off feeds from Tyler Lafferty and Arias to knot the game at 4–4 and force overtime.

In the extra session, both teams battled for possession before Gustavus finally broke through. At 3:55 of overtime the Gusties got the goal to seal the 5–4 conference win.

Juntunen led Saint Mary's with two power-play goals and an assist, firing five shots on net. In goal, Adam Prokop stood tall under heavy fire, turning aside 47 shots in a valiant effort.

The Cardinals will get another crack at the Gusties, this time at home, tomorrow, Jan. 10 for a 7:05 p.m. put drop.