St. Michael-Albertville goaltender Kyle Hayden is not afraid to give credit where credit is due, even when it comes to a shot that beat him.

“I saw it the whole way,” Hayden said on Saturday night. “It was just a good shot I guess,” Hayden added. “Beat me right in the one spot he had.”

Moorhead junior forward Cole O’Connell scored with 41 seconds remaining in the third period to salvage a 1-1 tie for the Spuds, ranked No. 15 in the latest Class AA state coaches’ poll.

The Knights (13-3-2) took a 1-0 lead in the second period on senior forward Mitch Bourgerie’s 13th goal of the season, and Hayden ended the night with an impressive 46 saves.

“Our last two games where we played Hermantown and Holy Family (Catholic), he probably didn’t play as well as he’s been playing all year,” Knights coach Jerr Johnson said after the win. “We had three good days with him, and really just said ‘keep this simple,’” Johnson explained.

Hayden said that he believes his team can compete with the Section 8 rival, but that the Knights may need more of an offensive boost to surpass the Spuds (13-3-3).

“I think we gotta try to get a little more offense,” Hayden said. “One goal is going to be tough to beat these guys, they have a great offense,” Hayden added of Moorhead.

Johnson said that the confidence that Hayden brings to the table filters out from the net to the rest of the No. 17-AA Knights.

“Kyle has been a starter for the last four years,” Johnson said. “We played well overall I think, and again it starts with him back there,” Johnson added.

After the heart-wrenching tie, the Knights will regroup on the trip home and look forward to the week ahead.

“We’ll have a good time on the bus,” Hayden said. “Kind of hang out with the guys, and back to work Monday.”