APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University hockey team held defending NCAA Division III champion St. Norbert College at bay for nearly a period and a half on Tuesday, but the Green Knights then got rolling and went on to an 8-1 victory in the season opener for both teams.
Lawrence (0-1-0) got on the board just three minutes into the game with Masa Takahashi's power-play goal. The Vikings held that edge until a flurry of penalties in the second period allowed the Green Knights (1-0-0) to take command.
Cory Patterson tied the game on the man-advantage 9:32 into the second period, and A.J. Gale gave St. Norbert a 2-1 lead with another power-play goal just 48 seconds later.
Jason Nopper was then sent off for St. Norbert with a holding penalty, but Tyler Allen's short-handed goal at 14:24 put the Green Knights up 3-1. Gale then scored an even-strength goal at 16:15 to give the Green Knights a 4-1 lead after two periods.
Freshman Alain Joanette then scored a natural hat trick for St. Norbert in the third period.
B.J. O'Brien made 12 saves in relief of Blake Bashor to pick up the win. Evan Johnson made 42 saves for Lawrence in the loss.