Goalie Ben Myers uses his body to defend the net. Myers completed the game with 40 saves and two goals allowed.
The St. Thomas men’s hockey team celebrated its first victory of the season as the final buzzer sounded. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Tommie forward Thomas Williams and Falcons defensemen Michael Lant collided as they raced after the puck. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Forward Brett Gravelle scored the go-ahead run for the Tommies with 3:21 left in the game. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Goalie Ben Myers defended a UW-Riverfalls attempted goal. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Chris Benson battled for the puck during a face-off on Friday’s home opener.
Behind a Brett Gravelle go-ahead goal with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, the St. Thomas men’s hockey team defeated University of Wisconsin-Riverfalls 3-2 Friday night at the Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
The Falcons tied the game with 7:14 left in the third period on a Mitch Kontny goal, but the Tommies answered.
Brett Gravelle dropped to the ice, but managed to slap his first collegiate goal into the net with handing the Tommies the lead with 3:21 left in the game.
“After giving up the second tying goal in the third period to get a goal right back … it just kind of shows the resilience of the team. Hopefully that is kind of a our motto this year … always battle to get that win,” goalie Ben Myers said.
The St. Thomas men’s hockey team (1-1-1) scored two first-period goals, both from Michael Dockry, to put the Tommies at a 2-1 advantage over the Falcons.
But it was UW-Riverfalls (0-3-0) that struck first. Joe Drapluk scored on a powerplay with 17:42 remaining in the first period taking advantage of a Michael Dockry holding penalty.
Goalie Ben Myers felt out of rhythm in the first period, but gained confidence as the game continued knowing there was plenty of time to battle back.
“Giving up a goal early out in the first period is not a great way to start the game, but luckily our bench still had a lot of energy, and they picked me up right after that,” Myers said.
River Falls pressured early in the second period, but St. Thomas was able to prevent the Falcons from scoring with physicality on the defensive end, contending a River Falls two-man advantage.
“That five-on-three in the middle of the second period … it was pretty huge for us to get that kill,” Gravelle said.
St. Thomas secured the victory behind Ben Myers’ goaltending, allowing two goals on 40 saves. The Falcons outshot the Tommies 42-19.
“We have to give it to our goalie. (Ben) really kept us in the game … he was a really pleasant part of this game tonight for me. He played very well,” coach Jeff Boeser.
St. Thomas will resume action Saturday Nov. 5 against University of Wisconsin-Superior in Willmar (Minnesota).
Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.