EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire rang in the new year at home on Friday as they hosted nonconference opponent St. Olaf at Hobbs Ice Arena. The UW-Eau Claire offense rolled all night as seven different Blugolds found the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory over the St. Olaf Oles.
The Eau Claire offense jump started play in the opening frame as Cade Lemmer (Fr. – Tomahawk, Wis./Wausau West) knocked home a loose puck on an odd man rush, giving UWEC an early 1-0 lead. Aaron Swanson (Jr. – Sun Prairie, Wis./East) and Leo Bacallao (Fr. – Madison, Wis./Vel Phillips Memorial) received assists on Lemmer's first career goal as a Blugold. The Blugolds outshot the Oles 10-8 to open the game.
The second period featured Eau Claire's powerplay for the first time during the contest. On their first showing of the evening, the Blugolds capitalized on the man advantage as Dawson Klein (So. – Lakeville, Minn./South) found his third goal of the year to increase the UWEC lead to 2-0. Klein's slapshot from the middle of the blue line rocketed through traffic and beat the St. Olaf netminder between the legs. Kyler Grundy (So. – Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail Academy) received the lone assist on the special teams tally.
In the final period of play, the Blugolds found themselves on the penalty kill twice as they looked to close out their fifth home win of the season. The Oles found their lone goal of the evening on the powerplay to cut the Blugold lead to 2-1. With 2:38 left in the contest, Quinn Green (Jr. – West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) buried his 7th goal of the season on an odd man rush to regain the two goal lead. Dawson Klein and Connor Szmul (Jr. – Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View) received the two assists on the Blugolds final goal of the night.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced to earn his 8th win of the season. Gutjahr is now 8-5-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (8-5-0, WIAC 3-3) will be back at Hobbs on Saturday, January 7th when they host Saint Mary's University. Puck drop between UWEC and SMU is scheduled for 7PM.
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