MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — In a back-and-forth battle, St. Thomas secured a 4-3 win against St. Mary’s thanks to senior forward Spencer Zwiener’s go-ahead goal, his second goal of the game, with just under five minutes left in the third period in the Tommies’ last home game as a Division III and MIAC member school.
That goal, assisted by first-year defender Kimball Johnson, was Zwiener’s fourth goal of the season tying him with sophomore forward Jackson Bond for most goals thus far this season.
“It feels good,” Zwiener said. “Our power play was working well down there, so I was lucky enough to put it on the back of the net.”
Zwiener was one of four seniors, along with defenders Phil Fromberger and Tucker Bender, and forward Joey Sofo honored during a senior ceremony in the first intermission.
“It’s a weird year,” Zwiener said. “It’s kind of weird to finish up like this, but it is what it is. It’s been fun.”
It was also the final home game for coach Jeff Boeser, who is retiring after this season. Boeser did not get into the job for himself, however.
“It’s all about mentoring and coaching young men and just seeing the successes they have,” Boeser said.
Boeser felt “ready to retire” and had a lesson for young adults.
“You’ll just know when it’s time, and it’s time,” he said. “I got to do it for 40 years, something I love to do … and make a little money.”
First-year forward Austin Nault’s first collegiate career goal, assisted by first-year forward Josh Maucieri and sophomore defender Charlie Kiefer, tied the game up for a short while after St. Mary’s first-year forward Nolan Dawson got the Cardinals (4-3-0) on the scoreboard.
Afterwards, Zwiener’s first goal, which was assisted by sophomore forward Justin Kelley and Johnson, gave the Tommies (4-1-1) a one-point lead going into the first intermission.
“It was a great play by my linemates (first-year forward Lewis) Crosby and Maucieri to get the puck to me and get a lucky bounce on that,” Nault said.
The second period remained mostly scoreless, before Cardinal senior forward Tommy Stang netted his third goal of the season, assisted by first-year forward Bud Winter and junior defender Tyson Liverance with just under two minutes left.
A little over a minute later, Maucieri responded with his first collegiate career goal for the Tommies assisted by junior forward Grant Loven.
“It’s always good to get your first,” Maucieri said. “I blacked out, so I couldn’t tell you how I scored it.”
Thirty-five seconds later, Winter scored his first collegiate career goal for the Cardinals with assists from junior forward Ryan Stoynich and first-year defender Nash Wood, leaving the second period tied 3-3 before Zwiener’s third period goal.
“We’re kind of getting a feel that they like to work hard, so we got to match that intensity,” Zwiener said.
The Tommies travel to St. Mary’s for a rematch Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.