For the third time this season, the Austin boys’ hockey team surrendered a goal in the final 1 minute, 30 seconds of the game.

Wednesday, February 09, 2000

For the third time this season, the Austin boys’ hockey team surrendered a goal in the final 1 minute, 30 seconds of the game.

And this time it cost them.

Century’s Todd Whiting scored with 1:15 remaining in the game to tie it at 4-4. Twenty-three seconds into overtime, the Panthers ended it on a goal – Century’s third straight – by Ben Sandvik for a 5-4 final.

Austin (12-6-1, 10-3-1 in the Big Nine) is 3-1-1 in overtime this season.

"When you flirt with that long enough," Austin coach Denny Laumeyer said, "it’s going to come back and hurt you."

After trailing 1-0 early, Austin scored three straight, pulling out to a 3-1, then a 4-2 lead.

Brandon Schaefer scored the first Packer goal. David Lorenzen scored the next two despite playing defense.

Lorenzen, the first-line center, and first-ling wing Asham Bell, who scored the Packers’ final goal early in the third, were forced to play defense in the game, because Austin’s defense is decimated by injury and illness and a two-game suspension to a top junior.

Tony Hill was the lone defenseman at 100 percent entering the game. Nate Hansen, on his way back from injury, played the first two periods.

"The kids came out and worked hard," said Laumeyer, whose team hosts Albert Lea on Thursday. Albert Lea upset John Marshall 3-2 on Tuesday.

Austin out-shot Century 33-25. There were only two penalties in the game.

Note: Contrary to a report in Tuesday’s Herald, Nick Bowe is out for the season. His ankle is, in fact, broken, not sprained. The loss of the sophomore is huge, because he can play both first-line wing and defense well.