Jan. 4, 2008

Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Babson men's ice hockey team, ranked ninth in the nation, scored three times in the final period to claim a 4-3 victory over St. Olaf University in the semifinal round of the Time-Argus Invitational at Norwich University on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Beavers remain unbeaten at 7-0-2 and will play the host Cadets, ranked 11th in the country, in the championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m.

St. Olaf (4-6-2) led 1-0 after one behind a Roger Trousdale goal at the 13-minute mark of the opening period. Babson then tied the game when sophomore Chris Sabo netted his first of the season at 8:19 of the second, but the Oles regained the lead following Mike MacMillan's tally at 7:24 of the third.

The Beavers took the lead for good with three straight goals in a four minute, 33 second span, beginning with a powerplay score by sophomore Gabriel Chenard-Poirier - his first of the year - that knotted the game at 2-2 at 10:45. Sophomore Jason Schneider followed with his fifth of the season to put Babson in front at 14:30, and senior Mike Venit tacked on a critical insurance goal at 15:18.

St. Olaf managed one final goal after pulling its goal for an extra skater, but that would be all junior Skylar Nipps would allow as Babson held on for the 4-3 win. Nipps finished with 18 saves for the Beavers, while Jake Busch notched 36 stops in goal for St. Olaf.

As has been the case all season, Babson used a balanced attack to claim the victory, as 12 different players recorded points. In addition, Venit became the seventh Beaver to tally a game-winning goal this winter, meaning the squad has had a different player score the decisive goal in all seven of its wins.