Red Knights advance to Section 6AA semifinals
Top line combines for 12 points in win over Blake.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. -- The line of co-captains Ryan Baird and Drew Stewart, along with sophomore Cam Kirschner, combined for four goals and 12 points and seventh-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret's defeated Blake, 7-1, in a Section 6AA quarterfinal game.
When Stewart and Kirschner combined to set up Baird for the game's first goal, two minutes, 42 seconds into the contest, the Red Knights were off and running.
With his assist on the goal, Stewart reached the 100-point plateau for his career to begin his career-best five-point night.
Stewart then put up the game's second goal, and the eventual game winner, when he scored with 5:39 to play in the opening frame.
The Bears, however, kept pace with the Red Knights as the first period saw BSM hold a 15-12 edge in shots on goal while Oliver Duininck cut the lead in half with 2:56 to play in the opening frame.
But, from there, it was all Red Knights, as they went onto score four goals in the second period on 24 shots.
Kirschner set up Gavin Reed's fourth goal of the season at 5:32 of the middle stanza.
Michael Risteau's team-leading sixth power-play goal of the season came next, with five minutes to play in the second period and, just 57 seconds later, Ben Norris made it a 5-1 game with his ninth goal of the season, matching his total from his sophomore season in 2021-22.
Drew Stewart scored a pair of goals, including the game winner, and recorded a career-high five points to reach the 100-point mark.
Stewart's 24th goal of the season closed out the period with 1:39 to play in the frame and the outcome, at that point, was a mere formality.
Baird's second goal of the game came 65 seconds into the third period and sent the game into running time.
With a 33-5 advantage in shots on goal, BSM finished with a 48-17 advantage as Mason McElroy stopped 16 shots before giving way to Brennan Chapman for the final 6:55 of the game.
The Red Knights now move onto play second-ranked Edina in a Section 6AA semifinal, Saturday at the Bloomington Ice Garden. Opening faceoff is slated for 7 p.m.
