ST. CLOUD, MN – This evening at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, the Beloit College Buccaneers (2-11-1, 1-6-0 WIAC) faced a formidable challenge against Saint John's University (MN). While the final 8-0 scoreboard favored the Johnnies (7-2-3, 3-1-2 MIAC), the box score tells a story of a Beloit squad that refused to back down, showing significant offensive growth and defensive grit as the game progressed.
The game began with a rapid offensive onslaught from Saint John's, who capitalized on early opportunities to build a 5-0 lead in the opening frame. For Beloit, the early deficit was a test of team culture. After the Johnnies' third goal at the 11:31 mark, Buccaneers head coach opted for a momentum-shifting change in net, bringing in Mitch Taylor (Hamburg, NY) to relieve starter Anthony Zolezzi (Oswego, IL).
Taylor's entry provided an immediate stabilizing effect. Facing 31 shots over the final 48 minutes of play, Taylor turned aside 26 of them, including a perfect 12-save effort in the second period that kept Beloit within striking distance of a momentum swing.
While the first period belonged to the hosts, the second and third periods saw Beloit find their footing and assert themselves in the offensive zone. In a remarkable shift of momentum, the Buccaneers nearly matched the Johnnies in shot volume during the second period (13-14) and outshot SJU 12-9 in the final frame.
Beloit's ability to sustain pressure against a winning Saint John's program was a testament to their conditioning and persistence. By the end of the night, Beloit had peppered Johnnies goaltender Kyle Abrahamson with 35 shots. Had it not been for Abrahamson's stellar performance, the scoreboard would have looked much different.
Joe Weber (Rochester, NY) was a titan in the faceoff circle, winning a team-high 11 draws for a dominant 78.6% success rate. His ability to win possession allowed Beloit to establish offensive zone time during the second-half surge. He also contributed 4 shots on goal. Valerii Kneib (Dmitrov, Russia) was the engine of the Beloit attack, leading the team with 6 shots on goal. His aggressiveness in the corners and willingness to shoot from high-danger areas created multiple rebounding opportunities. Taylor's relief performance was heroic, as he navigated several Saint John's power plays and stopped 83% of the shots he faced to prevent the game from spiraling further. A constant threat on the wing, Max Von Klinggraeff (Edina, MN) registered 4 shots and was instrumental in the Buccaneers' second-period power play that saw the team record three quick shots on goal.
The Buccaneers get some much needed rest after a busy week, not returning to the ice until Friday, January 16th when they host St. Mary's Univeristy (MN) at the Woodman's center. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.
