First-year forward Kyler Grundy scored five minutes into the game to give St. Thomas a 1-0 lead, but Bemidji State University responded with six goals during the game to give them a 6-1 win Saturday at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
Grundy’s power play goal was assisted by senior forward Matthew Jennings and graduate student defender Nolan Sawchuk.
“We played fairly good in the first two periods,” coach Rico Blasi said. “Obviously, good teams have a way of capitalizing when you make mistakes, and we made a few mistakes in the third period and they capitalized.”
Five minutes after St. Thomas’ (1-17-0, 1-11-0 CCHA) goal in the first period, Bemidji State (10-6-0, 8-2-0 CCHA) answered with a goal from junior defender Will Zmolek to tie up the game 1-1 going into the second period.
The Beavers took the lead three minutes into the second period with a power play goal, and only goal of the period, by junior defender Elias Rosén giving Bemidji State a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.
Things excelled in the third period with four goals in a row from Bemidji State: the first just under five minutes in from senior forward Alex Adams, then three minutes later from first-year forward Jere Vaisanen on a power play.
Another two minutes later came a goal from sophomore forward Lukas Sillinger, followed by a second goal from Adams.
“Up until the last 10 minutes of the game, we were playing a great game,” Grundy said, “and then we just kind of got detached towards the last 10 minutes of the game that broke us ultimately at the end.”
Tommies graduate student goaltender Peter Thome saved 28 of 34 shots that came his way from Bemidji, while Beavers first-year goaltender Mattias Sholl saved 21 of 22 shots.
The Tommies head to Houghton, Michigan to play Michigan Tech in a two game series Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11.
“We got another top 20 team that we have to deal with,” Blasi said. “So simplicity and making sure you stay within yourself and mindsets got to be right, so there’s a lot to do.”
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.
Cami Good can be reached at cami.good@stthomas.edu.