ASHLAND, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team concluded their weekend series against Northland College on Saturday afternoon. Despite surrendering the contest's first goal, UW-Eau Claire stormed back and outshot Northland 39-19. Colin Ahern (Jr. – Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) earned his first career victory as the Blugolds skated past the Lumberjacks, 5-3.
With the game's first tally coming in the first five minutes of play, Eau Claire was quick to answer as Connor Szmul (Jr. – Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View) netted his seventh goal of the year on the powerplay at the 11:57 mark of the opening period. UWEC continued to attack the net as they outshot Northland 15-4 in the first 20 minutes of play.
The second period saw a similar momentum tilt for the Blugolds as Peter Jacobs (So. – Carlsbad, Calif./Lewis Palmer) found his first goal of the year less than four minutes into the middle frame. Aaron Swanson (Jr. – Sun Prairie, Wis./East) and Austin Becker (So. – Amery, Wis.) received assists on Jacobs's go-ahead goal. The early goal was the only tally of the period as UWEC continued to outshoot Northland. In addition to the heavy offensive pressure, the Blugolds dominated the faceoff dots winning 29 of the 47 draws taken in the first two periods.
In the third, the Lumberjacks evened the score halfway through the period to put pressure on UWEC. Just 90 seconds later, Ryan Green (Jr. – Muskego, Wis.) capitalized on the powerplay to put UWEC back in front. Green's special teams' goal was assisted by Connor Szmul and Dawson Klein (So. – Lakeville, Minn./South). Green wasn't done there as he netted his 11th goal of the season five minutes later at the 15:01 mark to extend the Eau Claire lead to 4-2. Szmul and Coalson Wolford (Fr. – San Jose, Calif.) received assists on the eventual game winning goal as UWEC looked to defend their two goal lead.
Northland College found the back of the net in the final minute of the game to cut the lead back to one goal, but Colin Stein (So. Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial) answered swiftly with seconds remaining in the contest with an empty net goal to seal the 5-3 victory.
Colin Ahern (Jr. – Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) stopped 16 of the 19 shots he faced to earn his first collegiate victory. Ahern is now 1-0-0 on the season after his first start of the year.
The Blugolds (14-6-1, WIAC 7-3-1) will be back on the road next weekend for another Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) series. UW-Eau Claire will travel to UW-River Falls on Friday and Saturday, February 3rd – 4th for the two game series. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05pm.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
