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Despite a quick goal 25 seconds into the first period by first-year forward Ryan O’Neill, the St. Thomas men’s hockey team could not surpass Alaska-Fairbanks as the Tommies fell 4-2 Friday at St. Thomas Ice Arena.

Last season, the Nanooks (2-0-1) defeated the Tommies (0-3, 0-0 CCHA) in February on the road 6-1 and 7-3.

“That’s a good hockey team, and we were toe-to-toe with them,” coach Rico Blasi said. “We clean up our mistakes, get our power play going and who knows?”

As the Tommies gained quick possession of the puck after winning the initial faceoff, the puck ricocheted off multiple Alaska-Fairbanks players before O’Neill sent it into the back of the net through traffic.

“My linemate Lucas … stripped it from the D, and he made a great play,” O’Neill said. “I just had to hit it home.”

The goal was O’Neill’s first collegiate, but not his first overall at St. Thomas Ice Arena, as he is a graduate of St. Thomas Academy. In his senior year, O’Neill scored 15 goals for the Cadets, who share the same ice with the Tommies.

Despite the promising start, Blasi said offensive consistency plagued the Tommies.

“It’s unacceptable and it’s not because the effort’s not there; it’s not because they don’t want to win; it’s not because they don’t want to make the play,” Blasi said. “You have to be smart and make better decisions.”

Ten minutes later, Alaska-Fairbanks sophomore forward Anton Rubtsov netted a goal from more than 15 feet out into the upper corner of the net. Less than three minutes later, sophomore forward Matt Koethe navigated toward the goal through St. Thomas defenders and sent another high shot into the back of the net over St. Thomas first-year goaltender Aaron Trotter’s arms.

Despite letting four goals past him, Trotter saved 16 shots in the game, which Blasi commended him for.

“I thought he (Trotter) played great,” Blasi said. “You give them four odd-man rushes, we basically gave them the game. You can’t make mistakes like that.”

The Tommies’ defense helped Trotter block shots, but simple mistakes led to two more Nanook goals in the second period as sophomore forward Simon Falk netted his team’s third goal of the game when his team outnumbered the Tommies near the net.

Alaska-Fairbanks graduate student forward Jonny Sorenson dribbled the puck past St. Thomas first-year defender Carson Peters as he fell to the ice. Sorenson faced an attack from two other Tommies, but had a clear line to the goal to send the Nanooks’ fourth goal past Trotter.

However, the Tommies did not give up after the second period, sending 14 shots at senior goaltender Matt Radomsky in the third period alone. One of those shots made it past Radomsky when first-year forward Lucas Wahlin sent one from long distance with seven minutes to go, reducing the Nanooks’ lead to two.

This was Wahlin’s first collegiate goal.

Although the Tommies outshot the Nanooks 58-35, Blasi said Alaska-Fairbanks was able to put more past Trotter because of Blasi’s “inexperienced” team.

“We need to clean up our game,” Blasi said. “We play well in spurts, but we don’t play consistent from shift to shift.”

As the Tommies head into their Saturday matchup against the Nanooks, O’Neill said the speed of the game might be the key to splitting the series.

“I think we just need to use our speed,” O’Neill said. “We’re a fast team and we just need to bring the pace to them instead of them bringing it to us.”

Blasi echoed O’Neill’s sentiment and saw the loss as a learning opportunity for Saturday’s 6 p.m. rematch at St. Thomas Ice Arena.

“Sometimes growing happens when you’re losing, not when you’re winning,” Blasi said. “Right now, we’re in a learning mode and we have to learn quick.”

Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.