ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) — The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team continued their strong start to the 2013-2014 season with a 6-1 win over Hamline University (Minn.) in their first road game of the season.
The Blugolds (3-0-0) scored two goals in every period and got off to a quick start in the first. Jared Williams (Sr.-West Chicago, Ill./Bartlett) scored at 3:32 of the first period with assists to Jon Waggoner (Sr.-Fairbanks, Alaska/Lathrop) and Ethan Nauman (So.-Mosinee, Wis./Mosinee).
At 12:13, Joe Krause (Jr.-Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) put the Blugolds up 2-0 with an assist to Daniel Olszewski (Sr.-Janesville, Wis./Craig). The Pipers (0-4-1) cut the lead in half just 58 seconds into the second period.
David Donnellan (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) gave UW-Eau Claire the two-goal lead right back at 3:23 with his first goal of the night and an assist from Adam Knochenmus (Fr.-Roseau, Minn./Roseau). Donnellan then assisted on a goal by Nauman at 13:22 to give the Blugolds the 4-1 lead heading into the third period.
Donnellan and Nauman both notched their second goals of the game, with Donnellan's coming at 11:19 and Nauman's at 19:21 of the final stanza. Waggoner assisted on both goals and Jack Callahan (Jr.-Red Bank, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) added an assist on Nauman's goal.
Jay Deo (Fr.-Langley, BC/Langley) made his collegiate debut in goal for the Blugolds and made 20 saves on 21 shots to pick up his first career victory. The Blugolds outshot the Pipers 29-21 and forced a goalie change in the third period.
The Blugolds were 0-for-2 on the man-advantage and Hamline finished 0-for-5 on the power-play. UW-Eau Claire will be on the road again Saturday night when they play Bethel University (Minn.). The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. It will be the final tune-up game before they travel to De Pere to take on St. Norbert in the first meeting of the season.
-JM-
