Men's Hockey Captures First-Ever NCHA Title

Jordan Singer's first goal of the night in the opening period. He also scored the Blugolds' game-winner in the third.
Jordan Singer's first goal of the night in the opening period. He also scored the Blugolds' game-winner in the third.

Scoring Summary

1st - 05:59 - Jordan Singer (UW-Eau Claire)
2nd - 02:39 - Mark Pustin (UW-Eau Claire)
2nd - 03:13 - Sean Roadhouse (UW-River Falls)
2nd - 18:07 - SH - Willie Hess (UW-River Falls)
3rd - 05:42 - Jordan Singer (UW-Eau Claire)

Game Leaders

UW-River Falls
G: 2 Players (#14, #16) - 1
A: 2 Players (#11, #20) - 1
Sh: TEAM - 28
Sv: Scott Lewan - 39
UW-Eau Claire
G: Jordan Singer - 2
A: 4 Players (#11, #14, #19, #26) - 1
Sh: TEAM - 42
Sv: Brandon Stephenson - 26

Team Stats

UW-River Falls
UW-Eau Claire

PowerPlays

0 for 2
0 for 3

Shorthanded Goals

1
0

Penalties (min)

4 (8)
3 (6)

Shots on Goal

28
42

Face Offs Won

0
0
full stats
Posted: Feb 02, 2013

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The fifth-ranked UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team needed just one win in its final three games to earn at least a share of the NCHA title, and the Blugolds got that win tonight, defeating UW-River Falls 3-2 at Hobbs Ice Center.

With the win, the Blugolds earned their first conference title in school history. Eau Claire needs just a win or a tie in one of its final two games to win the title outright as St. Norbert College still has a chance to share the crown.

Additionally, the Blugolds earned the No. 1 seed in the NCHA's Peters Cup Playoffs, which includes a first round bye (Feb. 15-16). Eau Claire will host a semifinal match on Feb. 23 and, with a win that night, would host the championship March 2.

In tonight's game, the Blugolds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Jordan Singer (Sr.-Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) scored the first goal in the first period, and Mark Pustin (Jr.-Northridge, Calif./Granada Hills) followed with a goal early in the second. But River Falls tied the game up at 2-2 by the end of the second period.

In the final period, Singer again found the back of the net at 5:42 for his 16th goal of the season and the Blugolds hung on for the win.

The Blugolds outshot the Falcons 42-28 and Brandon Stephenson (Sr.-Saline, Mich.) earned the win, playing the entire game and stopping 26 shots. He improved to 16-2-2 on the season, breaking a school record for most wins in a season. The previous record was 15, set by Tom Johnson during the 1982-83 season. He also increased his career wins mark to 42 which is also a school record.

Eau Claire improves to 18-3-2 on the season, currently on a six-game winning streak, and 13-2-1 in the NCHA. The 18 wins tie a school record for most victories in a season (also achieved in 1989-90). River Falls drops to 11-9-3 overall and 4-9-3 in the conference.

Next Friday, the Blugolds will be home again to face the College of St. Scholastica (Minn.). Action will get underway at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center. They will close the regular season Saturday at UW-Superior.

-KM-