By Justin Dade - Sports Information
NORTHFIELD, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - The No. 6 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team rolled to a 4-1 win over St. Olaf College on Tuesday night at Northfield Ice Arena.
Following a tough loss to top-10 rival UW-Stevens Point in their last outing, the No. 6 Blugolds displayed their strong offensive firepower in a dominant win behind a strong return performance from Garret Clemment (Sr. – Wausau, WI).
UW-Eau Claire got off to a very good start in a first period that saw the Blugolds double the Oles in shots on goal (12-6).
Todd Koritzinsky scored his ninth goal of the season 5:20 into the opening period to make it 1-0 with the assists going to Alex Strand (Fr. - Roseau, MN) and Logan Von Ruden (Fr. – Northfield, MN).
St. Olaf would respond 5:17 into the second period on a goal scored by JT Paine to make it 1-1.
Clemment would add his first goal of the night in his first game back from injury on a big goal late in the period to retake the lead. David Henry (Sr. – Foster City, CA) was awarded the only assist on the goal that made it 2-1.
The Blugolds led in shots on goal 27-16 at the end of two periods.
A little over halfway through the final frame, Clemment found the back of the net for the second time in the game to make it 3-1. Patrick Moore (Sr. – Grand Rapids, MN) and Adam Knochenmus (Sr. – Roseau, MN) were credited with the assists on the senior forwards' ninth goal of the season.
Moore added a late insurance goal putting the puck into an empty net to make it a 4-1 final.
Goaltender Jay Deo (Sr. – Langley, British Columbia) started in net for the Blugolds for the 21st consecutive time on the season. The senior net minder saved 27 of the 28 shots he faced to improve to 14-4-3 on the season.
The Blugolds (14-4-3) now have only four regular season games remaining on the schedule with all of them being WIAC play. They will take on rival UW-Stout on Thursday in the final regular season installment of the War on I-94.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.