MOORHEAD, MN - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team ended a long drought with a 5-3 triumph over Concordia College here Saturday night.

The Blugolds had been winless in their first 14 games this season and had not won since December 11, 2004 when they defeated UW-Stevens Point by a 4-2 margin. That made a string of 27 winless games, a streak that included six ties.

The Blugolds are now 1-11-3 for the season while Concordia dropped to 5-6-1 overall.

The Blugolds took a 4-1 lead into the third period but two Concordia goals within two minutes early in the period made it interesting. A Dan Lohr (Jr.-Middleton) goal with 4:58 remaining gave the Blugolds some breathing room and provided first-year coach Luke Strand with his first collegiate win.

The game was scoreless until freshman Peter Bracker (Albert Lea, MN) tallied at the 12:05 mark of the first period. Less than four minutes later, Tyler Neu evened the score for Concordia. A little over two minutes later, Mike Schneider (Fr.-Owatonna, MN) put the Blugolds back ahead and they took that 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.

Late the second period, the Blugolds opened up a 4-1 lead on a power play goal by team scoring leader Chip Dunleavy (Sr.-Littleton, CO/Columbine) and an even-strength goal by junior Brooks Lockwood (Hudson).

The Blugolds outshot Concordia by a 37-30 margin in a rather penalty-free contest. The Cobbers were whistled for just four minors, putting the Blugolds on the power play twice. Eau Claire skated off five Concordia power play opportunities.

Senior Steffan Braunlich (Los Angeles, CA/Loyola), earned the win in goal for the Blugolds who are now 5-1-1 all-time against Concordia.

The Blugolds return home next Friday to host St. Olaf College in a 7 p.m. contest at the Hobbs Ice Center.

Eau Claire-Concordia-Moorhead Box Score

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