BLAINE, Minn. (blugolds.com) – The No. 15 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team continued the weekend road slate as they traveled across state lines once again, this time for a matchup with the Bethel University Royals. Both sides traded the lead three different times to force an overtime period. The Blugolds came up short in the extra frame and were handed the 4-3 defeat.
UW-Eau Claire wasted no time finding the back of the net as a loose puck off an offensive zone turnover fell to the slot and Coalson Wolford (Fr. – San Jose, Calif.) wristed home his first goal as a Blugold into the top corner at the 2:01 mark for the opening tally. The Royals answered just five minutes later with two goals in a 51 second span to take a 2-1 lead. Despite the one goal lead at the first intermission, UWEC outshot Bethel 12-8.
Willy Stauber (Jr. – Duluth, Minn./Marshall) and the Blugolds started the second period similar to the first as Randall poked home a loose puck in front of the Bethel net to tie the game at 2-2. Eau Claire's goal at the 6:17 mark would stand as the only tally in the second frame.
With a tie game heading into the third period, the intensity increased as both sides looked to gain an edge. A goal five minutes into the period by Bethel was answered 90 seconds later by Coalson Wolford to bring the game to 3-3. Kyler Grundy (So. – Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail Academy) earned the lone assist on the equalizer.
In overtime, the Blugolds found a scoring opportunity right in front of goal, but a stellar save by the Royal's netminder kept the game square and sent Bethel the other way. Jack Brown (BU) cut to the slot from the right side and fired home the game winning goal to give UWEC their second loss of the year.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced in his second defeat of the year. Gutjahr holds a record of 2-2-0 on the season.
The Blugolds (2-2-0 WIAC 0-0) will be back at home on Friday, November 18th as they begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play against Northland College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
