EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team scored five goals in the first two periods to pull away from Bethel University 6-3 here tonight at Hobbs Ice Center.

Box Score | Photos | Coach Loen Video

The Blugolds improve their record to 3-0-1 overall while the Royals falls to 2-4-0.  It was the sixth straight win for Eau Claire over Bethel and the most goals scored against the Royals since an 8-2 Blugold victory on November 5, 2004.  Eau Claire has also done well against schools from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) going 10-0-2 in their last 12 games meetings with MIAC schools.  The Blugolds' last loss to a MIAC school came in a 2-1 overtime defeat by Concordia-Moorhead on January 5, 2013.

Eau Claire started rolling early when Ethan Nauman (Jr.-Mosinee) scored just 43 seconds into the game assisted by David Henry (So.-Foster City, CA/Juniperro Serra) and Todd Koritzinsky (Fr.-Verona, WI/Middleton) taking an early 1-0 lead.  After Bethel tied the game on a power play goal at 8:25 Ross Andersen (Sr.-River Falls, WI) hit the back of the net at 9:40 assisted by Brandon Wahlin (So.-St. Paul, MN/White Bear Lake) and Patrick Moore (So.-Grand Rapids, MN) to regain the lead at 2-1.

The second period was filled with activity as both teams combined for five goals and nine penalties.  The Blugolds struck first when Mac Jansen (Fr.-White Bear Lake, MN) scored his first goal of the season assisted by Derek Knetter (Jr.Wausau, WI/West) and Wahlin extending the lead to 3-1.  Bethel answered again scoring two straight goals at 9:46 and 11:27 to tie the game 3-3.  Eau Claire countered scoring the next two goals.  Andersen scored his second goal of the night and second short-handed goal of the season at 14:35 assisted by Colton Wolter (Fr.-Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop) to regain the lead at 4-3.  Wahlin ended the second period scoring his first goal of the game at 18:53 assisted by Jack Callahan (Sr.-Red Bank, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) and Moore giving the Blugolds a two-goal advantage.

Eau Claire added an insurance goal in the third period when Jansen scored his second goal of the evening assisted by Joe Schmitz (Jr.-Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) and Moore giving the Blugolds a 6-3 win over the Royals.

Goalie Jay Deo (So.-Langley, BC) saved 20 shots earning his first win of the year.  Deo now has a 1-0-1 record in two starts.

Four different Blugolds scored goals lead by Andersen and Jansen with two goals apiece.  Eight different Blugolds assisted on goals lead by Koritzinsky, Moore and Wahlin with two apiece.

The Blugolds will play a rare mid-week non-conference game on Tuesday, November 18 when they travel to former Northern Collegiate Hockey Association foe St. Norbert.  The Green Knights are the top-ranked team in the nation according to the latest USCHO.com NCAA Division III poll.  Face off is set for 7:00 p.m.

-KCM-