ST. PETER, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated Gustavus Adolphus 5-2 here tonight at Don Roberts Ice Rink.

The win was the first in the last four games against the Gusties and improves Eau Claire's record to 2-3-0 on the season.

The Blugolds got on the board first when Ben Manny (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) took a Pete Eloranta (Sr.-River Falls) pass and slipped past the goalie 7:33 into the game. Gustavus scored a power play goal less than a minute later to even the score. Eau Claire countered with a Dave Coleman (So.-Whitby, ONT/Leo J. Austin) goal to put the Blugolds up 2-1.

Coleman scored his second goal of the game and team-high fourth goal of the season 7:12 into the second period. The Gusties kept it close with a goal 13 seconds later to pull within one goal. Matt Finley (Fr.-Wheatridge, CO/Ralston Valley) scored his first collegiate goal unassisted with less than four minutes remaining in the period to push the lead back up to two.

Eau Claire scored an insurance goal less than two minutes into the final period. Brooks Lockwood (So.-Hudson) used passes from Ryan Bluske (Jr.-Onalaska) and Phil Cherneski (Sr.-Thompson, MAN/RDPC) to score his second goal of the year.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they play St. Olaf tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Eau Claire-Gustavus Box Score

- JL -