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BHS: STA Sneaks Past Stillwater

By Peter Odney , 12/27/18, 5:45PM CST

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Stillwater handles first ranked opponent by pumping 35 shots on the St. Thomas Academy net.


Stillwater's Jesse Brown makes one of his 23 saves in Thursday's 4-3 loss to St. Thomas Academy.

Brown Makes 23 Saves In Season's First Loss

Stillwater has one of the best defensive insurance policies in the state, and the policy-holder has the numbers to prove it. 

Jesse Brown and the Ponies had allowed just three goals in the first six games of the season before suffering a tough one-goal loss to high-powered St. Thomas Academy in the first game of the Hockey For Life Classic in Prior Lake.

“We know we’re going to give up (scoring) opportunities,” Stillwater coach Matt Doman said after the game. “We want to be aggressive, and that’s going to bite you sometimes, and we’re okay with that,” Doman continued. “Having Jesse back there makes it a little bit easier if he can cover up for some of our mistakes.” 

“I could’ve done better, I think our team could’ve done better overall,” Brown said after making 23 saves in the 4-3 defeat, the Ponies’ first of the season. “I think we’re going to come back stronger.”


Luke Herzog scored twice in the second period for St. Thomas Academy.

The Achilles heel for the Ponies on Thursday afternoon was the second period, in which the Cadets rattled off three straight goals in less than four minutes. Two of those goals came from Luke Herzog while the other came from leading-scorer Rob Christy.

Spencer Scott and Adam Eisele scored in the loss for the Ponies, while Cadet goaltender Muzzy Donohue made 32 saves to earn his fifth win of the season.  

“We haven’t been down this season, so it’s new to us,” Brown said, adding that he kept his mindset simple while trying to forget the Cadet scores. “Playing every play, taking every shot,” Brown said. “St. Thomas (Academy) is a really good team, but I was taking it play-by-play.”

The loss, while still a loss, was the first time the Ponies had played an opponent with a record at or above .500, and one of the top teams in the Suburban East Conference held up well against the No. 11-AA Cadets (6-2-1). 

“There’s no question that (when) we come to this tournament, we know we're going to play three good teams,” Stillwater coach Matt Doman said.

The Ponies (6-1) will face No. 16-AA Lakeville North on Friday and No. 12-AA Moorhead on Saturday. The combined record of the Ponies’ six victims this season going into Thursday was 18-31, but Doman said that taking a loss and learning to handle defeat, is part of the more significant process. 

“We’ve talked about as a fighter, you’re gonna get punched in the face,” Doman said. “You've gotta figure out what it feels like to have your nose broken if you want to be a good fighter.”


Adam Eisele celebrates on bended knee after scoring for Stillwater on Thursday afternoon.

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