NORSEMEN FALL TO NORTH IOWA IN HOME-AND-HOME SERIES
Saint Cloud sits in fifth place in the North American Hockey League Central Division. With 16 points they are sitting one game back from the Bismarck Bobcats who have 18 points.
The Saint Cloud Norsemen fell in a home-and-home series to the North Iowa Bulls on Friday October 27 and Saturday October 28 by scores of 3-2 (shootout) and 5-4 (Shootout).
Game 1- STC opened up the scoring in the first period when Tyler Dysart (Sunnyvale, Calif.) netted his first goal of the season. Branden Panzer (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Tyler Guyer (Blaine, Minn.) would record the assists, At the 9:20 mark of the second period Panzer gave the Norsemen a two goal lead. North Iowa would respond in the third period when Teddy Richardson and Jack Seaverson lit the lamp. After a scoreless extra session, Ethan Lindahl would give the Bulls the game winner in the shootout.
In net, Ryan Manzella (Eagan, Minn.) turned aside 14 shots. Connor Graham would be credited with the win for North Iowa.
Game 2- Jack Christ would score his first goal of the season at the 8:12 mark of the first period. Both teams would record two goals each in the second period. The Norsemen received goals from Dysart and Niklas Miller (Howell, Mich.). Dysart netted his second goal of the series. In the third stanza of play Lucca Munoz (Chicago, Ill.) would tally his fifth goal of the season. North Iowa would have the upper hand late in the period when Justin Mexico found the back of the net for two consecutive goals to force the contest in the shootout. North Iowa would secure the victory when Ethan Lindahl would score another shootout game winner in back to back nights.
In net, Max Weilandt (Northbrook, Ill.) made 16 saves. Connor Graham would earn the sweep after turning aside 30 of 34 Norsemen shots.
Next on the Schedule- Saint Cloud will play another home-and-home series to open up November against the Minnesota Wilderness. Game one will be played in the friendly confines of the Saint Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex at 7:00. Game two will be played at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, Minn. Puck drop will be at 7:15 p.m.
Dain Solberg, Freelance Writer