University of St. Thomas first-year defenseman Colton Jamieson clashes with Providence player. The Tommies were defeated 7-4 in their second game at Lee and Penny Anderson Arena Saturday night. (Milla Mirkovic/The Crest) 
St. Thomas scored three goals within two minutes during the first period. (Milla Mirkovic/The Crest) 
Students once again packed the student section during the second night of the Anderson Arena’s opening weekend. (Milla Mirkovic/The Crest) 
St. Thomas lost the lead after allowing four goals in the second period. (Milla Mirkovic/The Crest) 
St. Thomas students section turned their backs on the Providence players before the puck drop. (Milla Mirkovic/The Crest)
It had been a long week of celebration for the Tommies men’s hockey team, but on Saturday night they had little to cheer for.
A day after outlasting Providence in a shootout in their first game at the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, the Tommies crumbled in the series finale 7-4. Coach Rico Blasi said problems arose after straying from the game plan.
““It’s respecting the game and how you have to play and do that for 60 minutes.” coach Rico Blasi said. “I’m not sure we’ve done it for 60 minutes yet, which is also in some ways disappointing, but also OK. We haven’t done it yet but lots of room for improvement.”
The Tommies scored three first-period goals, all coming within a two-minute span. First-year defender Hayes Hundley scored the first goal for the Tommies late in the first frame. One minute later, senior forward Lucas Wahlin extended the lead to 2-1, and 11 seconds after, first-year defender Bauer Berry netted the third one.
Defensive linemates Berry and Hundley each scored their first collegiate goals.
All three goals came from beyond the faceoff circles. Providence senior goaltender Philip Svedeback struggled tracking the puck and was replaced by first-year goaltender Jack Parsons before the end of the first period. The Tommies shot the puck 17 times, with nine shots on goal.
“I thought we did have good traffic. When we’re doing that, we’re a pretty good team,” Blasi said.
UST’s struggles in the second period dictated the rest of the game. The Tommies allowed four goals and relinquished the lead. The Friars outshot the Tommies 27-12 and scored in their only power play of the period.
“We got a little loose, and they capitalized when they needed to,” Wahlin said.
Blasi said after the game the entire team needs to work on staying composed in order to win close games.
“When you play good teams, you can’t give them easy outs, you can’t give them opportunities to do what they do best,” Blasi said. “So we turn way too many pucks over, so puck management is part of the composure. Your mindset is part of the composure. Also experience is part of that, right? We have a young team.”
Wahlin echoed his coach’s words.
“It’s early in the season. We got a lot to learn from all the games we’ve played so far, not just this weekend. It’s early. We have some young guys. Our older guys gotta help those guys out. We gotta help our goaltender, as well,” Wahlin said.
Sophomore goaltender Carsen Musser drew the start despite senior goaltender Aaron Trotter’s 38-save performance Friday night. Musser has played in four games and owns a 1-3-0 record between the posts.
The student section brought the energy for a second game in a row. Each time Providence scored in front of them, students booed and banged the glass in retaliation.
Men’s hockey is set to play Minnesota State Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in St. Paul. Friday’s game starts at 7:07 p.m. Both programs faced each other in the Mason Cup Final back in March when the Tommies lost 4-2.
Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.
