Senior Adam Hayes scored twice in a span of less than 2 minutes in the second period and senior goaltender Alex Darsow made 35 saves – including one on a penalty shot -- to lead Becker/Big Lake to a 4-3 victory over St. Paul Highland Park on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Highland Arena in St. Paul.
Both of Hayes’ goals were of the unusual variety. His first came after Scots’ goaltender Howie Sands skated 30 feet from the net to play the puck, only to have it end up on the stick of Hayes, who deposited it into the open net.
Hayes scored 1 minute, 50 seconds later while killing an Eagles’ penalty. He forced a turnover and skated in alone on Sands, firing a shot into the upper right corner to put Becker/Big Lake ahead 4-1 with 2:33 left in the second.
Highland Park’s Dylan Zavoral scored with 1:52 left in the second to make it 4-2, and Scots leading scorer Adam Tjaden made it 4-3 when he beat Darsow with a wrist shot with 2:20 remaining.
Becker/Big Lake (7-13-1) was whistled for three consecutive penalties in the third period but did not allow the Scots (4-17-0) to score. Darsow was a big reason for the stellar defensive effort, as he made 13 of his saves in the final period.
Darsow also stopped a penalty shot attempt by Highland Park’s Jordan Gregersen in the second period.
Zack Veau and and Jason Tonneslan scored in the first period for Becker/Becker Lake.
Freshman Oakley Bury scored in the second period as Highland Park closed to within 2-1.
Sands finished with 15 saves for Highland Park, a second-year varsity program that went winless last season.