RIVER FALLS, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team wrapped up their weekend series with UW-River Falls on Saturday with their final regular season road game. A late third period rally by the Blugolds was spoiled in overtime by the Falcons as UWEC fell, 4-3.
A scoreless first period set the tone for the night contest as both sides used their speed to attack the net. UW-Eau Claire outshot UWRF 10-8 in the opening frame but weren't rewarded as the teams hit the intermission deadlocked at zeroes. The second period brought the physicality and extra curriculars as six penalties were called in the middle frame. Both sides found their chances throughout the period, but it was UWRF finding the first tally of the night in the final minute of the frame to give UWEC a 1-0 deficit into the second intermission.
The final period was one for the fans as five goals were scored. UWRF increased their lead to 2-0 in the opening two minutes of the frame. Coalson Wolford (Fr. – San Jose, Calif.) Eau Claire's first answer just after the halfway mark of the third period on an odd man rush to cut the UWEC deficit to one goal. A UWRF penalty setup Jack Johnston (Jr. – St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy & Summit School) and the Blugolds on the powerplay. Johnston netted his fourth goal of the year on the man advantage to tie the game at 2-2. The large momentum shift continued late into the third as Quinn Green (Jr. – West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) sent home a rebound in front to give UWEC the lead with less than three minutes to go.
With their goalie pulled, River Falls tied the game with 65 seconds left in regulation to force the overtime period. The Falcons capitalized on a Blugold turnover in the extra period to score on an odd man rush hand UWEC their second loss of the weekend.
Max Gutjahr (Fr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced in his eighth loss of the year. Gutjahr is now 13-8-1 on the season.
The Blugolds (14-6-1, WIAC 7-3-1) will wrap up their regular season on Friday and Saturday, February 10th, and 11th when they host UW-Stout for a two game weekend series. Both games are scheduled for 7PM puck drops.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
