Despite being down after one period, Jordan Farnham wasn’t too worried.

After a sloppy first period marred by penalties that found them in a 2-1 hole, St. Bonaventure (18-4-1) erupted for four goals in the second period to take control of its 5-3 win over Auburn in the opening game of pool play in the 16-team AAU College Hockey National Tournament Wednesday morning in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

“The penalties put us in a tough spot, but getting away with only allowing one goal on the 5-on-3s gave us a little lift. We were clearly the better team 5-on-5 so I just told them at intermission to stay out of the penalty box and not to panic,” said Farnham, the Bonnies coach.

The Bonnies’ top line of Owen Hughes (2), Mason Meggo (1) and Michael Robertson (2) scored every goal, with Hughes assisting on each of his line mate’s goals.

Trailing 2-1 after the first, a period in which the Bonnies gave up back-to-back 5-on-3 power plays to the Tigers, Hughes tied the game less than 3 minutes into the second period off a great one-handed pass from Meggo. Less than 3 minutes later, Meggo gave SBU the lead for good on a power-play rocket from the top of the right circle.

Robertson made it 4-2 just 2 minutes later on another power play, and scored again on a nifty pass from Hughes with 2 minutes left in the second. The Bonnies outshot Auburn, 21-2, in the period and 45-21 for the game.

“When they are clicking the way they were today, they are one of the best lines in the nation, if not the best,” Farnham said.

Kyle Karoleski stopped 19 of 21 shots in the victory.

SBU, seeded No. 3 overall in the tournament, plays No. 10 Quinnipiac at 4 p.m. Thursday and No. 6 Buffalo at 6 p.m. Friday to complete play in Pool C. Quinnipiac defeated UB, 6-4, in their opening game Wednesday morning.

All tournament games can be livestreamed for free at Black Dog Hockey.

The team in each of the four pools with the most points — teams earn two points for a win and one for a tie — will advance to the semifinals Saturday night. The title game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).