By Justin Dade - Sports Information
SUPERIOR, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated the UW-Superior Yellowjackets 5-2 on Saturday night at Siinto S. Wessman Arena.
After the loss to UW-Stevens Point last Friday, the Blugolds have now won two straight conference games to improve their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record to 4-2. That record is now good enough for the top spot in the conference.
The Yellowjackets controlled the puck for an early portion of the first period and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal scored by Tanner Skaja with 12:05 to go in the frame.
Even though UW-Superior registered just four shots on goal in the period, the Blugolds were only able to manage six to trail 1-0 at the break.
After struggling for most of the game, the Blugolds got a favorable bounce off a misplayed puck by the Yellowjackets that found the back of the net with 12:41 left in the second period to make it 1-1. Nathan Dingmann (Fr. – Plymouth, MN) was credited with the goal and the assist went to Alex Strand (So. – Roseau, MN).
The Blugolds would get a big second goal late in the second period scored by Scott Munro (So. – Vancouver, BC) to make it 2-1. Jake Bresser (So. – Eau Claire, WI) and Colton Wolter (Sr. – Fairbanks, AK) would be credited with the assists on Munro's fourth goal of the year.
UW-Eau Claire would lead 17-10 in shots on goal after two periods of play.
Dingmann would add his second of the night with less than 9 minutes left in the final period to make it 3-1 on a power-play goal assisted by Kyle Lee (Sr. – Wausau, WI) and Wolter.
Lee would net a goal of his own 1:17 later on his fifth goal of the season to give the Blugolds a comfortable 4-1 lead. Captain Jake Hopfner (Sr. – Eastpointe, MI) and Lucas Kohls (Jr. – Forest Lake, MN) would be credited with the assists.
Todd Koritzinsky (Sr. – Verona, WI) would end the potential comeback with a late empty-net goal to secure the 5-2 win.
Dyment made his ninth consecutive start in the net for UW-Eau Claire and saved 13 of the 15 shots he saw on the night to improve to 6-3.
The Blugolds (14-8-0, 4-2-0) will be back in action tomorrow night for their third game in five days as they travel to Marian to take on the Sabres in the last non-conference game of the season.
Follow all the action on Blugold Game Day.
