First-year wing Cooper Gay scored his first two collegiate goals, providing some bright spots as the St. Thomas men’s hockey team lost 7-2 to Minnesota-Mankato Friday at St. Thomas Ice Arena.
The Tommies (2-7-0, 1-2-0 CCHA) kept with the No. 6 Mavericks (6-3-0, 3-0-0) for the first two periods, leaving the second tied at two on the back of Gay’s two-goal night. Not even 10 minutes into the third, the Tommies were losing 6-2.
“They deserve all the credit for how they finish games,” coach Rico Blasi said. “They certainly made us pay for our mistakes.”
Minnesota-Mankato went up 1-0 about five minutes into the first period on a goal by senior center Brenden Furry. The Mavericks scored again four minutes later as first-year wing Christian Fitzgerald scored a goal of his own.
Gay got the Tommies on the board with a short-handed goal eleven minutes into the first period, and the St. Thomas offense pressured the Mavericks for the remainder of the period. No goals were scored, but the momentum was in the Tommies’ favor.
“I was happy with our effort in the first two periods for sure,” Blasi said. “But we need everybody finishing their plays. I thought we had a great chance to make it 3-2, but their goaltender made a huge save.”
The Tommies rolled with the momentum, stifling the Maverick offense for the entire second period. Five blocked shots accompanied terrific netminding by first-year goaltender Aaron Trotter.
Gay’s second goal of the night evened the score at 2-2 at 13:59 in the second period.
“I had both my linemates go to the net and cause havoc,” Gay said. “As a team, both of those goals were team goals for sure.”
A once-rowdy student section and lively pep band were eerily quiet in the third period as Minnesota-Mankato lit the Tommies up to the tune of five goals by four unique players in less than 12 minutes.
First-year wing Luc Wilson scored his second of the period on a power play at 11:17, putting the final tally at 7-2 Mankato. Two of the five goals came on Maverick power plays.
“You can’t take penalties against them anytime,” Blasi said. “That’s why they’re in first place.”
How the Tommies plan to force a split, Gay said, “Just being physical with them; they don’t like being hit, so being physical, getting pucks deep and just going to work.”
The Tommies will travel to Mankato, Minnesota, hoping to force a series split Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:07 p.m.
Sam Larson can be reached at lars4378@stthomas.edu.