HANCOCK, Mich. - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team scored four unanswered goals between the first and second period as the Blugolds earned their fifth straight win, a 4-2 defeat of Finlandia (MI).

Eau Claire improves to 6-3-0 on the season and has yet to open Northern Collegiate Hockey Association or Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Lions move to 4-5-0 on the season.

Finlandia got the scoring started just 5:40 into the contest, when Mike Parka tallied a power play goal for a 1-0 lead. Rob Ouimette (Sr.-Iron Bridge, ONT/Leamington District) answered back for the Blugolds less than two minutes later with an unassisted goal to tie the score.

Eau Claire took the lead midway through the first period on a goal by Phil Cherneski (Sr.-Thompson, MAN/RDPC). Chip Dunleavy (Jr.-Littleton, CO/Columbine) earned an assist on the go-ahead goal.

Still not done with scoring in the opening period, the Blugolds took a 3-1 lead on a Pete Eloranta (Sr.-River Falls) power-play goal with 7:26 remaining in the first period. Cherneski and Ben Manny (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) earned assists on the goal by Eloranta.

Cherneski added a power play goal, his second tally of the night, early in the second period to give Eau Claire a 3-1 advantage. The Lions added a goal 15 seconds into the third period but the Blugolds held off any comeback attempts and earned a 4-2 victory.

Three different goalies saw action in net for the Blugolds, but Steffan Braunlich (Jr.-Playa del Rey, CA/Loyola) earned the victory, allowing one goal and making 13 saves in 29:10 in the game.

The Blugolds will look for a repeat of tonight's win when they battle the Lions again. Face-off is set for 3:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Finlandia Box Score

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