Meier Backstops Owatonna Hockey to Tie at Mayo [Southern MN Scores, Jan 6]

Owatonna senior goalie Preston Meier was busy Thursday night. He stopped 40 shots and got plenty of help from teammates who blocked many others in a 2-2 tie at Rochester Mayo at Graham Arena. It was the Huskies third overtime game of the season.

Mayo is a conference favorite and returns six players to the lineup who earned All Big Nine honors last season. Owatonna has several key players out with injury or illness, but turned in a great team performance to stick with the Spartans. Meier made several dazzling, quick-moving saves, losing his helmet in the process once late in the game. It was the kind of night that keeps a goalie parent on the edge of their seat.

The onslaught began early as Mayo controlled play in the Owatonna zone much of the night, ending with a 42-13 shots-on-goal advantage. Mayo's Jacob Miller scored 11:33 into the first period. Owatonna answered less than two minutes later on a partial breakaway by Tanner Stendel.

Rochester grabbed the lead again on a power play goal by Ethan Dennis off a rebound 3:46 into the second period. OHS tied the game 1:34 into the third period on a power play goal of their own from Sam Knoll. That set the final of 2-2.

In overtime Mayo outshot the Huskies 8-0. Owatonna (3-10 overall, 1-3-1 Big Nine) hosts Hastings Tuesday, January 11 at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. Mayo (5-2-2, 2-0-2) entertains Mankato East Thursday, January 13.

Prep scoreboard for Thursday, January 6, 2022
Boys basketball
Blooming Prairie 68, Medford 67
Kasson Mantorville 76, New Ulm 73
Mankato West 80, Albert Lea 49
PEM 81, Triton 73
Red Wing 55, Faribault 52
Stewartville 78, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 45
Winona 64, Century 56

Girls basketball
Bethlehem Academy 54, Cleveland 51
Lewiston-Altura 47, Triton 40
Mankato East 60, John Marshall 44
Mankato West 60, Albert Lea 44
Maple River 61, LeSueur-Henderson 31
Medford 47, Blooming Prairie 41
Lake City 68, Pine Island 32
Red Wing 76, Faribault 28

Boys hockey
Albert Lea 7, Winona 2
Dodge County 3, Lourdes 2
Mankato West 5, Faribault 4
Red Wing 6, Austin 2
Owatonna 2, Mayo 2 (tie)

Girls hockey
Albert Lea 7, Winona 1
Austin 9, Red Wing 3
Mankato East 4, Mankato West 3

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