EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team held a 3-0 lead in the third period but five St. Scholastica goals in the final 16 minutes of regulation resulted in a 5-5 tie here tonight at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Saints actually took a 5-4 advantage late in the third period but a Dave Coleman (So.-Whitby, ONT/Leo J. Austin) goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation preserved the tie.

The Blugolds were in complete control of the game through the first two periods. Ben Manny (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) scored the lone goal of the first period with assists coming from Coleman and Rob Ouimette (Sr.-Iron Bridge, ONT/Leamington District). The goal came while the Blugolds were on the power play.

Eau Claire continued to look impressive in the second period, adding two more goals to their lead. Ouimette scored both of the goals in the period, the first coming on another Blugold power play.

It looked as if Eau Claire had things in control heading into the final 20 minutes but a St. Scholastica goal 3:55 and another just six seconds later suddenly made the score a tight 3-2. Just more than two minutes later the Saints tacked on another goal to knot the game at three.

The Blugolds did not take long to regain the lead, as Manny swiped a St. Scholastica pass and drove into the Saint zone unmatched. He tallied an unassisted go-ahead goal just 53 seconds after the Saints had tied the score.

Eau Claire held onto the lead until just 3:10 remained in regulation, when the Saints found the back of the net to tie the game. Just 12 seconds later St. Scholastica took its first lead of the game and put the Blugolds looking at the wrong end of a 5-4 decision. Coleman's goal late in the game tied the score at five and neither team was able to do much in overtime, resulting in the 5-5 tie.

The Saints used a 25-5 shot advantage in the third period to complete the comeback and finished with 46 shots to the Blugolds' 26.

Eau Claire moves to 8-11-4 on the season and 1-8-3 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play while the Saints go to 5-13-5 for the season and 2-8-2 in NCHA action.

The Blugolds will be back in action next Friday when they head to Menomonie to battle UW-Stout at 7:30 p.m.

Eau Claire-St. Scholastica Box Score

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