Essery, Weninger Pace Saints to Win Over Michigan Tech
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Tech (7-5-1) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| St. Lawrence (5-6-0) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Scoring Summary | |
|---|---|
| 1st - 10:03 | Kyle Essery (St. Lawrence) |
| 1st - 16:20 | Chris Martin (St. Lawrence) |
| 2nd - 08:39 | Kyle Essery (St. Lawrence) |
| 3rd - 12:03 | PP - Brett Olson (Michigan Tech) |
| 3rd - 19:46 | Tanner Kero (Michigan Tech) |
| Michigan Tech | St. Lawrence |
|---|---|
|
G:
2 Players (#10, #16 - 1)
A: David Johnstone - 2 Sh: David Johnstone - 5 Sv: Josh Robinson - 19 |
G:
Kyle Essery - 2
A: 4 Players (#13, #25, #26, #51 - 1) Sh: Greg Carey - 3 Sv: Matt Weninger - 33 |
| TEAM STATISTICS | Michigan Tech | St. Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Power Plays | 1 for 5 | 0 for 3 |
| Shorthanded Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties (min) | 3 (6) | 5 (10) |
| Shots on Goal | 35 | 22 |
| Face Offs Won | 30 | 26 |
St. Lawrence University's hockey team didn't show many signs of
the post-Thanksgiving blahs in its non-league meeting with 18th
ranked Michigan Tech at Appleton Arena Friday night, but the
coaches and some fans may have grabbed the Tums anyway after a
thrilling finish to a 3-2 Saint victory.
Sophomore center Kyle Essery scored two goals and assisted on a
third and goaltender Matt Weninger came through with a 33-save
effort as the Saints won for just the seventh time since 1993 on
the weekend following Thanksgiving. The Saints took a 3-0 lead into
the third period, but it took more goaltending heroics from
Weninger to hang on to the win as Michigan Tech scored a power play
goal midway through the period and then tacked on an extra attacker
goal with 13.1 seconds to go before the Saints could claim the
win.
The Saints, who won their first non-league game of the year,
improved to 5-6-0 overall and have won five of their last six after
an 0-5 start. Michigan Tech falls to 7-5-1 overall and 1-4-0 in
road contests this season.
"I thought we played a very solid two periods, but they were able
to make it a cliffhanger at the end," said associate head coach
Mike Hurlbut. "Wenny was outstanding again and made some tremendous
saves with the game on the line. We got some timely goals and
fortunately were able to weather the storm in the third
period."
Essery staked the Saints to the lead midway through the first
period as he finished off a two-on-one rush with freshman Chris
Martin, tucking Martin's goalmouth pass past Huskie senior
goaltender Josh Robinson at 10:03. Just over six minutes later
Essery initiated an offensive rush which culminated in Martin's
third goal in the last two games with defenseman Justin Baker
setting the rookie wing up for a shot from close range at
16:20.
The Saints made it a 3-0 game at 8:39 of the second when Essery
tipped Jacob Drewiske's shot and the puck caromed into the net off
the leg of a MTU defender.
Weninger, who has been a key to the Saint streak in the last six
games, had a huge third period to hold off a rally by the Huskies.
He made 12 of his 33 saves in the final period, including several
acrobatic ones to keep the Saints in front. Michigan Tech cut the
Saint lead to 3-1 on a power play at 12:03 as senior center Brett
Olson scored his fifth of the year on a goal mouth deflection, and
Tech pulled to within one with an extra attacker goal in a scramble
in front of Weninger by freshman Tanner Kero with 13.2 seconds to
play, but the Saints were able to hold on for the win.
Robinson finished with 19 saves for Michigan Tech which outshot the
Saints 15-3 in the third period and 35-22 for the game.
