By Justin Dade - Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The No. 6 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team topped the UW-River Falls Falcons 3-1 on Friday night in Game 1 of the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's) Semifinals at Hobbs Ice Center in a defensive showdown.
The Blugolds played a strong defensive game against a team known for their stingy back end. They improved to 3-0 on the season against UW-River Falls earning the win in this one thanks to active sticks and crisp passes all around to complement goaltender Jay Deo (Sr. – Langley, British Columbia) who was strong all night.
In his first night as a Blugold skating the center position, Alex Strand (Fr. – Roseau, MN) gave the home team the lead in the first period that they would never surrender. Strand laid out a Falcons' defenseman on the blue line, stole the puck, and lifted a shot over the shoulder of goalie Zach Quinn to make it 1-0 just over three minutes into the first period. Mac Jansen (Jr. – White Bear Lake, MN) earned the assist on Strand's fourth goal of the season.
The Blugolds rode the momentum of the opening goal by skating very well and shutting down the Falcons' offense for the entire period allowing just eight shots on net and losing only four face offs. UW-Eau Claire would take the 1-0 advantage into the first intermission.
The second period displayed more defensive skill from both teams. Neither club could get much going in the frame thanks to strong blue line play from both defenses seeing only 13 combined shots on goal. The Blugolds would hold the 1-0 lead into the third period.
A Falcons' turnover in their own end of the ice would result in an important insurance goal for the Blugolds as Kyle Lee (Jr. – Wausau, WI) took the puck away behind the net and gave a nifty pass to Colton Wolter (Jr. – Fairbanks, AK) out front. Wolter buried it over the glove of Quinn to give UW-Eau Claire the 2-0 lead.
Things got interesting late in the third period when the Blugolds committed their second penalty of the game. On the penalty kill, Deo tried to cover up a loose puck in his crease only to see it end up behind him. After officials' review, Christian George was credited with a goal to cut the lead in half making it 2-1 with 6:02 left to play.
A crucial penalty late in the period put the Blugolds down a man with 1:35 left to go in the period. With Quinn pulled, UW-Eau Claire would have to kill off a 6-on-4 Falcons' advantage to preserve the win.
After a key face-off win in the defensive zone, the puck found captain Jake Hopfner (Jr. – Eastpointe, MI) near the blue line with some space. Hopfner lifted the puck in the air down to the other end over 100 feet into the back of the empty net to secure the win. The empty netter was his seventh goal of the year.
The Blugolds would hang on in the remaining seconds to earn the important Game 1 win.
Deo started in net for the Blugolds for the 26th consecutive time on the season. The senior net minder saved 25 of the 26 shots he faced to improve to 17-6-3.
With Game 1 win secured, The Blugolds (17-6-3) will now head into the final game of the series with the Falcons tomorrow night with the advantage. The puck will drop once again at 7:30 at Hobbs Ice Center for Game 2. A win or a tie will propel UW-Eau Claire into the finals.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.