Defenseman D.J. Jones passes the puck toward the Cobber net after wrestling it away from the Cobber defense. Jones’ pass was an assist to Broydon Stufko’s goal in the second period. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
Forward Michael Dockry holds off a Concordia player while maintaining possession of the puck. Dockry scored the first goal of Friday’s game. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
The Tommies celebrate their goal with 44 seconds left in the second period. St. Thomas matched Concordia for each point until Concordia’s winning goal with 1:15 remaining in overtime. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
Defenseman Johnny Roisum looks for a an open pass during the third period. St. Thomas had more shots on goal per period than Concordia, except for overtime when the Tommies were one shot down. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas men’s hockey (10-6-4 overall) fell to Concordia-Moorhead(13-7-1 overall) 4-5 in overtime Friday night at St. Thomas Arena. The Tommies will play the Cobbers again Saturday afternoon and they will face Augsburg next weekend. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
Forward Jack Christensen struggles with a Concordia player for possession of the puck near the Concordia net during the first period. The Tommies and the Cobbers finished the first period of Friday’s game tied 1-1. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
Forward Cullen Willox dives to stop a Concordia pass attempt in the second period. St. Thomas had the advantage for about 27 seconds in the second period, until Concordia scored with 22.8 seconds left in the period. (Natalie Hall/TommieMedia)
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — After back-to-back victories against rival St. John’s, the St. Thomas men’s hockey team lost 5-4 in an overtime heartbreaker against Concordia-Moorhead Friday night at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.
The Tommies and the Cobbers are no strangers. They met earlier in the season in the MIAC Hockey Showcase where, thanks to an early goal and stellar play by goalie Sam Nelson, the Cobbers won 1-0.
To conclude Friday night’s battle, the Cobbers scored with 1:15 left in overtime on a game-winning power play goal by Zach Doerring.
Tommie forward Tanner Barnes took a trip to the penalty box with just over two minutes left to play in overtime, and the Cobbers took advantage.
“There were a lot of breakdowns tonight,” head coach Jeff Boeser said.
The St. Thomas men’s hockey team (10-6-4) tallied up one first-period goal Friday night, scored by Michael Dockry, to give the Tommies a 1-0 advantage early.
But Concordia (12-7-1) responded quickly when junior forward Dalton Mills skated around a Tommie defensemen on a power play to put the puck in the back of the net and match the score 1-1.
The teams went back and forth in a physical second-period going into the second intermission with a 3-3 tie.
“I don’t think that we deserved to win, to be honest with you,” Boeser stated. “We thought we could just show up and win a game, and it doesn’t work that way.”
Even after admittedly not playing their best hockey, the Tommies found themselves in a tie game after Brian LeBlanc’s third-period goal, evening the score at 4-4 with 15:43 to go in the end of regulation.
The Cobbers moved to seal the victory after scoring again on a power play in dramatic overtime fashion.
“Thank God we can get the bad taste out of our mouths in less than 24 hours,” Boeser said. “We have to come back and come ready to play tomorrow. We’ll see what kind of character we have.”
St. Thomas will seek its first win of the season against Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday Feb. 4 at the St. Thomas Ice Arena at 3 p.m.
Gamiel Hall can be reached at gamiel.hall@stthomas.edu.