EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team returned to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Friday night with game one of a weekend series against the UW-Superior Yellowjackets. Two goals in the opening period and a three-point night from Leo Bacallao (Fr. – Madison, Wis./Vel Phillips Memorial) helped the Blugolds grab their fourth WIAC win of the year.
As the Blugolds returned to Hobbs Ice Arena, UW-Eau Claire found the game's first tally halfway through the first period. Cade Lemmer (Fr. – Tomahawk, Wis./Wausau West) tipped in his second goal of the year off a shot from Conner Couet (Fr. – St. Michael, Minn./MTS Minnesota Connections Academy) to give UWEC the 1-0 lead. Leo Bacallao (Fr. – Madison, Wis./Vel Phillips Memorial) received the secondary assist on Lemmer's goal for his first point of the night.
Bacallao and Eau Claire kept the pressure on as Leo extended the UWEC lead to 2-0 just five minutes later after Nick Techel (Sr. – Wausau, Wis./West) earned an offensive zone takeaway to setup Bacallao for his second goal of the year. Despite being outshot in the first 20 minutes, the Blugolds kept the defensive play tight and went into the first intermission with the 2-0 lead.
In the second period, UW-Superior cut their deficit back to one goal just four minutes into the contest. UWEC refused to back down as Aaron Swanson (Jr. – Sun Prairie, Wis./East) put home a rebound out front at the 12:44 mark to regain the two goal lead. Jack Johnston (Jr. – St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy & Summit) collected the assist on Swanson's first goal as a Blugold after taking the initial shot. Special teams play was active for both sides in the middle frame as each side found one powerplay opportunity. A five-minute major penalty by Eau Claire carried over into the third period as Eau Claire still held a 3-1 lead.
The Yellowjackets took advantage of the man advantage early in the final period as they cut their deficit back to one goal just 42 seconds into the period. Both sides kept the pressure high and fluid as no penalties were committed in the final 17 minutes of play. Eau Claire tightened their defense once again and were rewarded in the final minutes of play as Leo Bacallao found his second goal of the game on an empty net to seal the 4-2 victory.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced to earn his 11th win of the season. Gutjahr is now 11-6-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (11-6-0, WIAC 4-3) and Yellowjackets will conclude the weekend series on Saturday, January 21 at Hobbs Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
