Cooper Pierson tallied four points, and
Sam LeDrew scored twice as the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit, but LIU scored late to secure a 7-6 win on Tuesday night at Appleton Arena.
St. Lawrence fell to 0-3-0 on the season, while LIU improved to 2-5-0.
The Saints could not have asked for a much better start.
After an early hooking penalty put St. Lawrence on the power play, Pierson buried a power-play goal just 2:56 into the game off assists from LeDrew and
Cayden Casey. Less than a minute later,
Owen Tylec doubled the advantage, tipping an
Andrew Brown shot through the five-hole of the Sharks' goaltender to make it a 2-0 game.
The goal also served as Tylec's first collegiate goal.
LIU answered midway through the period on a goal from Trent Powell before capitalizing on a power-play opportunity to pull even. Luca Leighton scored with the man advantage at 11:29 and added his second of the period at 16:49 at even strength to give the visitors their first lead of the night.
The Saints needed just 15 seconds to respond. Following the faceoff after LIU's go-ahead goal, LeDrew finished a setup from Pierson and Brown to tie the game at 3-3. The score remained even through the first intermission despite LIU carrying a power play into the final minutes of the period.
The visitors regained control early in the second. LIU converted on a 5-on-3 power play at 3:21 when Anthony Lucarelli scored, then stretched its lead to 5-3 on a goal from Dylan Kinch midway through the frame.
St. Lawrence continued to press and was rewarded late in the period. After three consecutive power-play opportunities generated sustained offensive-zone time, LeDrew struck again at the 14:14 mark, finishing his second goal of the night off a feed from Pierson to cut the deficit to 5-4 and chase LIU's Daniel Duris from the game.
LIU restored its two-goal cushion with 1:39 remaining in the second period when Garrett Valk found the back of the net, sending the visitors into the third period ahead 6-4.
St. Lawrence mounted an impressive comeback effort in the final 20 minutes.
The Saints generated several chances during an early power play and broke through at 5:27 when Pierson picked up a puck behind Lukas Renaud and centered a pass to
Isaac Tremblay, who scored to make it 6-5.
Just over three minutes later, Casey completed the rally.
Gunnar Thoreson and
Jake Rozzi set up Casey's first goal of the year at the 8:39 mark, tying the game at 6-6 and energizing the Appleton Arena crowd.
The deadlock held until late in regulation. After a St. Lawrence penalty with 3:43 to play, LIU went back to the power play and capitalized. Isaac Lambert scored at 16:25 of the third period to give the visitors a 7-6 lead. The goal stood as the game-winner.
The Saints pulled goaltender
Colin Winn for an extra attacker in the final minutes and generated several opportunities, including shots from Rozzi, Thoreson,
Filip Juříček and Tylec, but the LIU goaltender Renaud helped the visitors hold on for the victory.
Colin Winn made 33 saves for St. Lawrence, while Duris and Renaud combined for 34 saves in the visiting goal.
The shots were 40-40, and St. Lawrence finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while LIU went 3-for-5 with the man advantage.
The Skating Saints will be back at Appleton Arena on Friday, November 6, when the team opens up ECAC play with a 7 p.m. game against RPI.
