Moments before faceoff on Tuesday, John Marshall’s Brian Moehnke skated past Rocket goalie Josh Skinner and said, "Need the A-game baby.

Wednesday, February 16, 2000

Moments before faceoff on Tuesday, John Marshall’s Brian Moehnke skated past Rocket goalie Josh Skinner and said, "Need the A-game baby. A-game."

In skating to a 4-0 lead, the Rockets’ A-game was on.

But after cracking the Skinner safe with a goal late in the second period, Austin dialed up its own A-game, scored three more unanswered goals and left Riverside Arena with a 4-4 tie.

"This team doesn’t ever get down," Austin coach Denny Laumeyer said. "They’ve got a real confidence in each other. They just kept working."

Austin’s Brandon Schaefer picked up a hat trick in Austin’s comeback. All four Austin goals came from the line of Schaefer, David Lorenzen and Josh Hansen.

Schaefer’s third goal tied the game with 48 seconds left in regulation.

The tying goal came as Austin goalie Kyle Olson was leaving the ice in favor of a sixth skater. But as it turned out, the Packers didn’t need the extra attacker.

Schaefer, Lorenzen and Hansen rushed up the ice, getting a shot on Skinner, who couldn’t corral the rebound that the sophomore Schaefer banged home to complete the four-goal comeback.

Laumeyer said the superior passing of the Lorenzen line pulled JM’s defense away from the net, creating the openings Austin needed to get back in the game.

"They moved the puck real well," said Laumeyer, whose team is now 13-6-2, 11-3-2 in the Big Nine. At 12-3-1, JM remains a point ahead of Austin in the race for second place in the Big Nine. Austin faces conference champ Mayo on Saturday and JM still has to play in Winona.

Notes: Olson made a huge save early in overtime, thwarting a two-on-none JM break … Austin, without five regulars against JM, will be at full-strength against Mayo on Saturday.

John Marshall 2 2 0 0 – 4

Austin 0 1 3 0 – 4

First Period – 1, JM, Andy Wiesner (Joe Magee) 3:22. 2, JM, Andy Wiesner (Joe Magee, Kyle Amundson) 12:48.

Second Period – 3, JM, Kyle Amundson (unassisted) 3:31, 4, JM, Andy Englund (Kyle Amundson, Dan Gurter), 5, Austin, Brandon Schaefer (Josh Hansen, David Lorenzen) 11:12.

Third Period – 6, Austin, Brandon Schaefer (David Lorenzen) 3:16. 7, Austin, David Lorenzen (Asham Bell). 8, Austin, Brandon Schaefer (David Lorenzen, Josh Hansen) 14:12.

Shots on goal – JM, 7-6-5-5 23. Austin, 5-5-7-9 26. Goalies – JM, Josh Skinner 26-22. Austin, Kyle Olson 23-19. Penalties – JM, 3-for-6 minutes. Austin, 1-2.