By Justin Dade - Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The No. 12 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated the Lawrence University Vikings 4-1 on Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Center to improve to 5-3 on the season.
After the tough loss the night before to No. 1 St. Norbert, UW-Eau Claire rebounded with an explosive display of offense led by Mac Jansen (Sr. – White Bear Lake, MN) with four goals. Jansen provided four points in last year's 8-1 win over Lawrence and continued his dominance against the Vikings with tonight's four goal performance.
A slashing call against the Vikings would set up a power-play opportunity that resulted in Jansen's first goal of the night to make it 1-0 less than three minutes in. Tyler Tomberlin (So. – St. Paul, MN) and Lucas Kohls (Jr. – Forest Lake, MN) were credited with the assists on Jansen's third tally of the season.
Jansen would add his second of the evening with 9:52 left in the period as he weaved past multiple defenders and placed a wrist shot over the blocker of goaltender Evan Cline to make it 2-0. The assists went to Kyle Lee (Sr. – Wausau, WI) and Johnny Mueller (Jr. - St. Peters, MO) on the goal.
The Blugolds would head into the first intermission with the 2-0 lead dominating in puck possession and shots in goal (17-6).
A UW-Eau Claire penalty would help the Vikings cut the deficit in half on a power-play goal scored by Lane King to make it 2-1 with 14:08 left in the second period.
Lawrence would ride some momentum after their first goal of the night until Jansen got a breakaway chance set up by a stretch pass from Kohls. The senior forward would complete the hat trick with a nifty move to beat Cline to make it 3-1 with 5:52 left to play in the second period. Mueller would be given the second assist on the goal.
Jansen would add his final goal of the night coming again on the power play to make it 4-1 with four minutes left to go in the middle frame. Kohls and Jesse Tredinnick (Sr. – Onalaska, WI) were credited with the assists.
Things got physical in the final period increasing the penalty count for both teams. Finishing 2-3 on the power play will improve UW-Eau Claire's conversion percentage with the man advantage to .267.
The Blugolds would control the puck for most of the final frame to outshoot the Vikings 43-16 in the 4-1 victory.
Goaltender Camden Haugenoe (Fr. - Williston, ND) made his eighth consecutive start in net for the Blugolds and will improve to 5-3 on the year saving 15 of the 16 shots he faced on the night. The freshman netminder now holds a .895 save percentage and a goals allowed average of 2.25 on the season.
The Blugolds (5-3-0) will look to build on this win staying in Eau Claire for two more home games next weekend both against Finlandia University. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at Hobbs Ice Center.
