By Justin Dade, UWEC Sports Information
MOORHEAD, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated the Cobbers of Concordia-Moorhead 6-3 in an offensive explosion to stay unbeaten on the season on Saturday night at Moorhead Sports Center.
The Blugolds avoided a loss once again to improve to 4-0-2 on the season led by an Adam Knochenmus (Jr. – Roseau, MN)) hat trick. With these three goals, Knochenmus now has seven on the season through six games.
Knochenmus' first goal came just 38 seconds into the game assisted by Patrick Moore (Jr. - Grand Rapids MN) and Garret Clemment (Jr. - Wausau WI). The same line and scoring combination then put another in the back of the next on Knochenmus' second goal 11 minutes later.
The Cobbers got on the board less than a minute later on a goal from Jordie Bancroft, but the Blugolds answered right back just four minutes later on a power-play goal from Todd Koritzinsky (So. – Verona, WI) assisted by Jake Hopfner (So. – Eastpointe, MI) and Preston Hodge (Jr. – Normal, IL).
UW-Eau Claire then started the next period off hot as well with another power-play goal for Knochenmus' third goal to complete the hat trick assisted by Clemment - his third on the game - and David Henry (Jr. - Foster City, CA).
Concordia-Moorhead scored two more goals in the second period with one coming shorthanded.
The Blugolds ended the period strong, however, on a goal from Hopfner assisted by captain Jeff Pauluk (Sr. – Bloomington, MN) and Lucas Kohls (So. - Forest Lake, MN) with just 43 seconds left in the period.
Mac Jansen (So. - White Bear Lake, MN) added a late third period goal to extend the lead to three goals, assisted by Joe Schmitz Sr. - Lino Lakes, MN).
Henry and Moore both finished 11-17 in the faceoff circle, and the team in total won 46 of the 78 face-offs on the night.
The Blugolds so far this season have been stellar in the special teams department having scored nine power-play goals (32.1 percentage) and have just given up two goals on the penalty kill for a very impressive percentage of 92.3.
Goaltender Jay Deo (Jr. Langley, British Columbia) started his third game in a row and improved to 2-0-1 on the season with this win. Deo recorded 25 saves on the 28 Cobber shots on goal.
The Blugolds will be back in action next weekend in Eau Claire at Hobbs Arena on Friday to take on Concordia (Wis.) at 7:30 p.m. and then Lake Forest (Ill.) at 7 p. the following evening.
