Justin Dade – Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team wrapped up their opening weekend of the new season on Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Arena in a 3-2 win over the Aurora University Spartans.
The Blugolds earned their second consecutive win while skating many fresh faces in a late third-period comeback effort headlined by a game-winning goal scored by Lucas Kohls (Jr. – Forest Lake, MN).
UW-Eau Claire killed off a crucial Aurora power play midway through the first period, with help from a penalty committed by the Spartans. The Blugolds were unable to find much success on the ensuing power play of their own.
After one period of play, the Blugolds led in shots on goal 7-6, and trailed in faceoffs 12-8.
UW-Eau Claire finally broke through on the power play with a beautiful back door play set up by Todd Koritzinsky (Jr. – Verona, WI) and Kohls at the 10:45 mark of the second period. Mac Jansen (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) took the pass from Koritzinsky and put it past Lucas Thompson for the power-play goal. After just five periods of play this season, Jansen racked up his third goal of the year.
About six minutes later, the Spartans found the back of the net on a power-play goal of their own scored by Bayley Marshall.
Despite the tied score, the Blugolds fired 20 shots on goal in the second period alone to give them a 27-10 lead in shots on goal after two frames.
Aurora would strike again this time in the third period on a goal by Danny Zielecki just under three minutes into the third period.
Down 2-1, the Blugolds began to dominate puck possession and continued to pour shots on goal.
UW-Eau Claire finally broke through in the third on a goal scored by Colton Wolter (Jr. – Fairbanks, AK) right in front of the net assisted by Kohls and Jake Bresser (Fr. – Eau Claire, WI) to tie the game 2-2.
Using the goal to gain momentum, UW-Eau Claire's offense continued to be relentless in putting pucks in front of the net finishing with what would be a 46-16 shots on goal advantage by the end of the game.
Back on the power play, Kohls rifled a slap shot from the point past Thompson's glove side for the game-winning goal assisted by Koritzinsky and Jesse Tredinnick (Jr. – Onalaska, WI) with 8:21 left to play in the game.
UW-Eau Claire dominated puck possession for the rest of the game aided by another power play to hold on to the 3-2 win.
After this weekend, the Blugolds bolster a 41.7 power-play percentage scoring five times on 12 opportunities.
Goaltender Jay Deo (Sr. – Langley, British Columbia) surrendered the two Spartan goals while making 14 saves. Deo's record improves to 2-0 on the season.
The Blugolds (2-0) will look to use these two wins to propel them into the full swing of the new season. UW-Eau Claire will travel to the Twin Cities next weekend for games with St. Mary's (Minn.) and Augsburg.
Follow the action all year long on Blugold Game Day.
