WINONA, Minn. – The Northland College Men's Hockey team was defeated 5-3 by Saint Mary's University Friday night in Winona, Minn. Evan Ilkos had a two-goal game to increase his season total to three.
 
In the first minute of the game, the Cardinals had a couple of shots that were blocked by Sam Holy and Trey Taylor. Eric Honold had the first shot on target that Matt Sankner turned away. The Jacks were on an early power play and recorded two shots from Kenny Styles and Trey Taylor. Evan Ilkos started the scoring six minutes in with his second goal of the season. Ilkos had an opportunity to make it two-nothing after he came out of the penalty box he was one-on-one with the Sankner but his shot was saved. The Cardinals leveled the game with six minutes left on the clock with a goal from Carter Newpower.
 
SMU tested Viktor Wennberg right at the start of the second period and scored on its third shot to take its first lead. Valerii Kneib bought the game level getting the assist from Honold. The Cardinals had a 9-to-6 shot advantage over the Jacks in the second period but ended the period tied at two.
 
The Jacks were down two men early and the Cardinals took advantage scoring the go-ahead goal. Northland held off the rest of the major power play. NC had its chance with a few SMU penalties. Ilkos found the net for the second time to bring the game to three all on the power play. With six minutes remaining the Jacks were down a man and it did not take long for SMU to find the back of the net to regain the lead. In an attempt to force overtime, Northland pulled its goalie but was unsuccessful and Saint Mary's scored the empty netter to win 5-3.
 
Northland was outshot 38-22 but stayed with SMU for most of the game. Pacing the Jacks were Ilkos and Jackson Breton tallying three shots on goal. Five student-athletes finished behind the pair with two shots on net. Ilkos also lead the team in points with two coming from his goals. Kneib earned a point from his goal and Honold, Brenton, Trey Taylor and Josh Kingsbury landed on the scorer's sheet was an assist.
 
Wennberg had ended the game with 33 saves on 37 shots with a save percentage of 89.2 percent. The Defense matched their season-high with 18 blocks. Stopping a career-high was Trey Taylor with five.
 
The Jacks have one more nonconference game before returning to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action as they travel to St. Olaf College tomorrow (Saturday) for a 7 p.m., game.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.