Box Score In a wild game of punch and counter punch, Jesse Kessler got int he last -- and most important -- blow. The sophomore defenseman scored from an angle at 3:53 of overtime to lift Hamline's men's hockey team to a crucial 6-5 win over St. Mary's Friday at Pscar Johnson Arena. The Pipers picked up three points with the win to climb within two points of the fifth place Cardinals -- owners of the last playoff spot -- and now stand 3-5-1 in the MIAC (6-8-4 overall).
Linemates Charlie Adams and Brandon Zurn had big nights for Hamline, which outshot SMU 42-30. Adams took a commanding lead in all of D-III hockey with 37 points (15 goals, 12 assists). The senior center was in all of Hamline's goals, finishing with two goals and four assists. Zurn added two goals and two assists and is second overall nationally with 35 points.
After a scoreless eight minutes, the two teams exploded for six goals in less than three minutes. Mitch Hall opened the scoring for HU at 8:33. SMU tied it up at 9:56 but the lead last just 12 seconds. That's when Adams made it 2-1. Zurn followed suit seven seconds later but the Cardinals struck at 10:50 to make it 3-2. Zurn responded again at 11:29 and things calmed down for a while. SMU connected late in the period and the teams wearily trooped to the locker room with Hamline leading 4-3.
St. Mary's tied in the game at 4. It looked like the period might end that way until Adams did more magic for his 15th goal of the season on a power play at 19:28 and Hamline led 5-4 after two.
The stubborn Cardinals, however, wouldn't give in. Jay Heinle tied the game at 12:12, forcing overtime. The concept of a shootout was on the horizon when Kessler stepped in from the boards, finishing off passes from Mitch McPherson and (who else?) Adams, who is the only men's college hockey player in the country averaging two points a game, for the game winner.
Justin Quale had 25 saves for Hamline in goal to earn the win. The three points for the win inched Hamline closer to the team they played in last year's MIAC postseason championship game. Hamline will get a chance to pass SMU when the teams face off Saturday night in Winona. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
