WINONA, MN - Today at the SMU Ice Arena the UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team tied Saint Mary's University 4-4 giving Eau Claire its first tie of the season.

The Eau Claire squad got an early lead when Brooks Lockwood (Jr.-Hudson) scored 7:36 into the game. Steve Dus (Jr.-Onalaska) assisted on the even-handed goal. The Cardinals struck back with an even-sided Tim McNamara goal 18:19 into the first period.

Both teams really started heating up in the second. Saint Mary's took a 2-1 lead 2:23 into the second when they scored on a power play goal. Lockwood struck right back as he sent his second goal of the evening into the net at 3:33. Sean Clark (Sr.-Royal Oak, MI/Brother Rice) and Andy Klapperick (Sr.-Austin, MN) assisted on the power-play goal that tied it up. At 9:21 into same period Dan Fina (Fr - Fontana/Glenbard South, IL) gave the Blugolds their second lead of the game. He collected a short-handed goal with the assist coming from Kyle Garner (Jr.-Sun Prairie). Less than a minute later the Cardinals tied it up again with a David Gross power play tally at 10:06.

With a 3-3 tie going into the final period, the Blugolds scored a quick goal at 2:49 into the third. Mike Schneider (Fr.-Owatonna, MN) recorded the even-handed goal while Dus had his second assist of the evening. With Eau Claire up 4-3 and looking for its first win of the season, Tom Stewart of Saint Mary's added a late goal at 16:09 to tie the game and force overtime.

In the overtime period, Eau Claire managed one shot on goal and Saint Mary's got two. Both teams had a power play opportunity in extra period, but Eau Claire's came with only three seconds left in the game.

For the game, the Blugolds got two legitimate power play opportunities, while the Cardinals had 11. Eau Claire went 1 for 2 on their power plays. Saint Mary's went 2-11 and Eau Claire even scored a short-handed goal on one of the Cardinal advantages. The Blugolds had 27 shots on goal in the evening. The opponents had 39 and really pounded the puck in the third with 17 shots on goal in that period.

Chris Nelson (Sr.-Madison/Memorial) made 35 saves on the evening, including 11 in the second and 16 in the third. He thwarted 20 power play shots. His counterpart had 23 saves for the night.

The team is now 0-1-1 this season. This was the first game of the season for the Cardinal crew.

Eau Claire travels to St. Paul tomorrow for its matchup against St. Thomas. The scheduled start is 7:00 p.m. again.

Results

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