By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugold.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team closed out their weekend homestand against non-conference opponent, the St. Olaf College Oles. This would be the 29th meeting between these teams dating back to 1979 with the Blugolds leading the series with a record of 17-9-2. With a win the previous night, the Blugolds kept the momentum with a 3-2 win.
In the first, it was all Eau Claire all the time. With a staggering shot total of 23 to 4, it would be Jon Richards (Callaway, MN/Detroit Lakes) picking up his own rebound to earn his 6th goal of the season. The Blugolds would keep the offensive pressure up in the second as Logan Von Ruden (Jr. – Northfield, MN) found the game's second goal. This would be his 2nd of the season, but Eau Claire wasn't done there.
After a scrum in front, both sides would see themselves with a player in the box creating a 4-on-4 opportunity. The Blugolds would take advantage of a bad line change by the Oles and found themselves with a 3-on-1 odd man rush. After some crisp passes, Andrew McGlynn (Fr. – St. Louis, MO/Christian Brothers College) would bury the puck past the St. Olaf netminder for a three-goal lead. Richards would get an assist for his second point of the night and Kyle Froese (Sr. – Traverse City, MI/Traverse City Central) would earn the secondary assist.
In the third, the ice seemed to tip in the other direction with St. Olaf scoring two late period goals. The Blugolds would stand tall and grind out the last minutes on the penalty kill to secure the win.
Zach Dyment (So. – Abbotsford, BC/Yale Secondary) would stop 6 of the 6 shots he faced to earn his 8th win of the season on home ice. His personal record improves to 14-1-2.
The Blugolds bring things back to Hobbs on Wednesday, January 16th as they take on WIAC (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) opponent UW-River Falls. The midweek game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.
