EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team hosted No. 14 UW-Stevens Point on Saturday night. The WIAC rivals needed overtime to decide their first meeting of the year, with the Pointers narrowly escaping Hobbs with a 4-3 overtime win.
Eau Claire's offense came out strong to start, with Tyler Love (Jr. - Pittsburgh, PA/Moon Area) coming through with his first goal as a Blugold, getting the home squad on the board at 8:50 of the first. Charles Weiand (Sr. – Rosemount, MN) and Connor Szmul (So. – Castle Rock, CO/Castle View) were credited with assists on the goal.
Stevens Point came back with an equalizer in the second, scoring at 5:19. They would take the lead with a goal at 14:48, but Quinn Green (So. – West Chicago, IL/St. Charles East) would tie it again with his fifth goal of the season at 17:25 off an assist from Simon Sagissor (Sr. – Stillwater, MN).
Things stayed tight in the third. A deflected puck with five minutes left in the period would give the Pointers a goal and 3-2 lead.
Eau Claire would go on the power play shortly after and Sagissor would bury one off assists from Jarrad Vroman (Sr. – Lincoln Park, MI/St. Francis Cabrini) and Kyle Oleksiuk (Fr. – Winnipeg, Manitoba) to tie the game once again. Netminder Riley McVeigh (Sr. – Calgary, AB/Rundle College) who had several big saves throughout the game, came up big yet again, denying the Pointers with an open shot with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, the Blugolds were able to fire off several shots on goal but could not get one past the Pointer goaltender. Stevens Point came back with several of their own before getting the game winner at the 3:52 mark.
The close game was reflected in the stat lines, as both teams had 35 shots on goal and the Blugolds won 42 to the Pointers 43 faceoffs. Eau Claire killed off both Pointer power plays and were 1-for-1 with the man advantage. McVeigh finished the night with 31 saves.
The Blugolds (4-8-0, 2-3-0 WIAC) take a break until the New Year and will be back on the road for a matchup with Lawrence University in Appleton on January 4. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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