By Justin Dade - Sports Information
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team fell just short in a 2-1 loss to the Saint John's University Johnnies on Thursday night at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
UW-Eau Claire was looking to make it four wins in a row taking on a very solid Saint John's team on the road, and dominated scoring chances and puck possession for most of the night despite the final result.
The Blugolds were able to control puck possession early after earning a power play, but were unable to score despite multiple scoring chances.
UW-Eau Claire would head to the box shortly after and would surrender the first goal of the game for Saint John's scored by Kyle Wagner on the power play to make it 1-0 with 7:55 left in the first period.
Despite getting another chance with a man advantage, the Blugolds would finish the frame 0-2 on the power play as they trailed 1-0. The Johnnies held a commanding 14-5 lead in faceoff wins after one period of play.
UW-Eau Claire would get their third power play opportunity at the midway point of the second period and would find the back of the net on a shot from the slot from Colton Wolter (Sr. – Fairbanks, AK) to make it 1-1 with 8:03 left in the middle frame. Scott Munro (So. – Vancouver, BC) and Austin Redders (Fr. - McFarland, WI) would be credited with assists on Wolter's fourth goal of the season.
The Blugolds would lead 18-17 in shots on goal in the 1-1 tie after two periods.
Both teams would get multiple chances in the third period, but neither team could break the 1-1 tie without heading to overtime.
Despite dominating the entire overtime period full of offensive zone time, the Blugolds would concede on the last shift of the game on a goal scored by Sam Valerius with 2.9 seconds left in the game to give the Johnnies the 2-1 win.
Zach Dyment (Fr. - Abbotsford, BC) made his fourth consecutive start in net on the season and saved 23 of the 25 shots he saw on the night. The freshman netminder now holds a 2-2 record.
The Blugolds (10-7-0, 1-1-0) will try and regroup after this tough loss as they return to Minnesota to take on St. Olaf on Saturday.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
