ST. CLOUD, MN - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team could not pickup its first win of the season tonight, losing to fifth-ranked St. John's University 2-0.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 0-11-3 this season and the Johnnies improve to 9-2-1 overall.

The Johnnies struck first when Dustin Mercado scored just over six minutes into the game. Blake Williams assisted on the goal. The Johnnies out-shot the Blugolds in the first period 7-2.

The Johnnies scored again at the beginning of the second period when Tom Freeman scored to make the score 2-0. Bille Luger and Justin Wild assisted on the goal. The Blugolds out-shot the Johnnies in the second period, but were unable to score.

The Blugolds would once again out-shoot the Johnnies in the third period 10-9, but still were unable to put one past the goaltender. The Johnnies went onto win 2-0.

Blugold goalie Steffan Braunlich (Sr.-Los Angeles, CA/Loyola) was named the third star of the game as he stopped 23 St. John shots. Kevin Knapp (Jr.-Blaine, MN/Spring Lake Park) led the Blugolds in shots with six.

Up next the Blugolds will travel to face Concordia-Moorhead tomorrow night. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

Eau Claire-St. John's Box Score

- JR -