MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (blugolds.com) – The No. 15 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team was on the road for the first time this season as they crossed state lines for a Top-15 matchup against No. 5 ranked Augsburg University Auggies. The two high caliber teams combined for 71 shots on goal for a competitive contest at the Ed Saugestad Rink. After a scoreless first period of play the Blugolds surrendered two goals in the second period and netted one themselves in the third as they fell for the first time this season, 3-1.
As the teams combined for five penalties totaling ten minutes, neither side saw more than four minutes of power play time. Despite being outshot 7-15 in the first period, the Blugolds kept the Auggies off the board in the first twenty minutes of play. The Blugolds dominated the faceoff dots all night, winning 39 of the 64 draws taken. Ty Readman (Sr. – Edmonton, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy) and Quinn Green (Jr. – West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) led the Blugolds with 21 combined faceoff wins.
The second period featured the game's first tallies as Augsburg netted two goals less than 60 seconds apart. The Blugolds added seven more shots on goal in the middle frame and kept play at full strength with no penalties taken.
Early in the third period, Jack Johnston (Jr. – Saint Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy & Summit School) found an answer for Eau Claire with his first goal in a Blugold uniform. Kyler Grundy (So. – Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail Academy) earned his first point in a Blugold sweater with the primary assist, and Aaron Swanson (Jr. – Sun Prairie, Wis./East) tallied his second assist of the year with his secondary helper. With a bit of momentum on their side, the Blugolds kept the offensive pressure high with ten shots on goal in the final period, but an empty net goal by Augsburg at 18:54 ultimately sealed the 3-1 loss for Eau Claire.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 44 of the 47 shots he faced in his first collegiate defeat. Gutjahr holds a record of 2-1-0 on the season.
The Blugolds (2-,1-0 WIAC 0-0) will be back on the road on Saturday, November 12th as they take on Bethel University at the National Sports Center in Blaine Minn. Puck drop is scheduled for 7PM.
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