MENOMONIE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team traveled East on I-94 on Friday, to complete their final game of a two-game series against UW-Stout. With a dominanting performance at home two days prior, the Blugolds used that momentum and maintained a lead for a majority of the game to win 4-2.
I nthe first period, Eau Claire would capitalize on a 2-on-1 rush. Cole Paskus (Sr. – Madison, WI/West) would make a move around a defender, and slide it to the slot for Zach Kennedy (Sr. – Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) to put UWEC up 1-0. Just moments later, Derek Hammer (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) would gather a rebound out front and put it past the Blue Devil goalie for a 2-0 lead.
The second period would show a glimmer of light for Stout as they cut the deficit to one, but the Blugolds wasted no time retaking their two-goal lead. Jon Richards (Sr. – Callaway, MN/Detroit Lakes) would score his fourth goal of the year off a rebound with assists going to Adam Parsells (Sr. – Wausau, WI/West) and Matt Stanton (Stillwater, MN).
Richards would add another, his fifth, before the end of the middle frame. The forward toe-dragged around a defender and beat the goalie over the blocker for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Zach Dyment (Sr. – Abbotsford, BC/Yale Secondary) would stop 15 of the 17 shots he faced for his third win of the season. Dyment improves to 3-1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds will return to the road next week, as they travel to Northland College to start a two-game series. The first game is scheduled for Wednesday, /February 24th at 7PM.
Follow all the action all season long at Blugold Gameday.
