Huskies, Brown Bears Battle to Tie

St. Cloud State University posted its second tie of the season with a 4-4 deadlock against Brown University on Saturday at the National Hockey Center. The tie decision moved SCSU’s record to 5-7-2, 3-6-1 WCHA, while Brown moves to 2-5-1, 2-4-0 ECAC.

In a goal-for-goal slugging match, the Huskies gained the early upper hand in the first period with a shorthanded goal by sophomore forward Andrew Gordon at 11:05. He was assisted on the play by Joe Jensen and T.J. McElroy. The shorthanded goal was Gordon’s first as a Husky, and it also marked his sixth goal of the 2005-06 season.

Brown fired back with a first period goal at 12:55 by Brian McNary, as assists were carded by Jeff Prough and Sean Dersch on the power play. On the penalty kill again, SCSU added its second shorthanded goal when senior Konrad Reeder scored the first shorthanded goal in his career with an unassisted effort at 15:44 of the first.

The SCSU lead was short lived, as Brown posted a goal at 17:13 of the first by Rugo Santini. He was assisted on the play by Sean Muncy and Pete LeCain.

In the second period, Brown gained a 3-2 edge in the game when Ryan Garbutt scored at 5:27 with assists provided by Matt Vokes and Antonin Roux. SCSU opted to change goalies at that point, as Bobby Goepfert was brought in for Husky starter Tim Boron. SCSU tied the game at 3-3 at 6:36 of the second with a power-play goal from Jensen. Justin Fletcher and Brock Hooton added assists on the goal, which was Jensen’s team-leading ninth of the season.

Gordon carded his second goal of the game, and his seventh goal of the season at 0:42 of the third period. Jensen and Billy Hengen each had assists on the play. Brown brought the scoring to an end at 3:51 of the third period when Prough scored with an assist from McNary.

In the overtime session, SCSU outshot Brown 6-4, but neither Goepfert or Bear goalie Adam D’Alba allowed a goal. Overall, Brown outshot the Huskies 36-33 in the match and both teams were 1-of-4 on the power play. D’Alba had 29 saves in the game, and Goepfert made 25 saves and gained the decision for SCSU. Boron made seven saves in the game.

SCSU will return to the WCHA loop next weekend, when the Huskies travel to Alaska-Anchorage for a pair of games on Dec. 2-3. Brown will take on Yale and Providence next weekend.