Blugolds defeat Lions 4-3 to improve to 9-1

Photo by Connor Miller, UWEC Photo
Photo by Connor Miller, UWEC Photo

HANCOCK, Mich. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team improved to 9-1 on Friday night after defeating Finlandia University, 4-3.

Box Score

The Blugolds got on the board early as Connor Koviak (Fr. – Canton, MI/Plymouth) notched his first goal as a Blugold at the 7:03 mark of the first period off a Derek Hammer (Fr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) assist while Nathan Dingmann (So. – Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) added to the lead eight minutes later. Kasey Fitzjerrells (Fr. – Dubuque, IA) tallied his first assist of his Eau Claire career while Jake Bresser (Jr. – Eau Claire, Memorial) was credited with the second assist.

Finlandia scored early in the second period but the Blugolds would answer with two goals in just under three minutes. Austin Redders (So. – McFarland, WI) lit the lamp at 12:59 thanks to assists from Steen Cooper (Jr. – Duncan, BC) and Koviak while Jon Richards (So. – Callaway, MN/Detroit Lakes) scored at 15:52 with assists from Dingmann and Cooper.

The Lions made things interesting in the third, scoring their second goal early in the period and recorded a power play goal with just under a minute to play but it would be too little, too late as the Blugolds would come away with a 4-3 win. The Blugolds out-shot the Lions 33-9 in the contest and won 42 of 72 faceoffs.

Zach Dyment (So. – Abbotsford, BC/Yale Secondary) earned the win in goal, adding six saves to his 155 on the season to bring his save percentage to .923 and improve his record to 9-1.

Eau Claire and Finlandia will face off again on Saturday with the puck drop slated for 3 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.