Frank’s third-period goals lift Vikings past St. Olaf

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Austin Frank scored twice in the final 6:20 Saturday to lift the Lawrence University hockey team to a 4-3 non-conference victory over St. Olaf College.

The game was part of the Thanksgiving Showdown at the Blue Line Ice Center. It also was victory No. 100 for Lawrence coach Mike Szkodzinski.

Lawrence (3-5-0) trailed 3-2 after Peter Lindblad’s power-play goal just 2:27 into the third period. All three of St. Olaf’s goals came on the man-advantage.

Lawrence struck back on the power play after Judd Loewenstein was sent off for cross-checking at 13:08. Frank, off assists from Brandon Boelter and Nick Felan, scored at the 13:40 mark to tie the game at 3-3.

The Vikings then killed off a penalty before getting the game-winner. Frank scored with just 1:15 left off assists from Brad Mueller and Sean Reynolds to give Lawrence the lead.

St. Olaf (2-5-3) pulled goaltender Robert MacDonald for the final 56 seconds but couldn’t get the equalizer. MacDonald made 27 saves for the Oles.

Mattias Soderqvist stopped 25 shots to pick up the win for Lawrence.

Josh Koepplinger gave Lawrence a 1-0 lead when he scored on the power play at 7:21 of the first with assists from Felan and Renato Engler. The Oles tied it with Lindblad’s power-play with with 2:00 left in the first.

Mikkel Joehnk put Lawrence on top 2-1 with a goal 4:37 into the second as Koepplinger and Mueller picked up assists. St. Olaf tied it at 2-2 on Ole Setsaas’ power-play goal at the 9:57 mark.

The Vikings went 2-for-9 on the power play, and St. Olaf was 3-for-8.

Box score