MENOMONIE - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team fell 2-1 tonight after allowing two goals in the final period to Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) rival UW-Stout.

Eau Claire drops to 4-3-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the NCHA. The Blue Devils are now 2-0-0 in NCHA games with an overall record of 6-0-1. The all-time record between these two schools is 24-21-2.

The Blugold score came 16:04 into the opening period on a powerplay. Steve Dus (Sr.-Onalaska) got the puck past the goalkeeper for his first goal of the season. Greg Petersen (So.-Maple Grove, MN/Totino-Grace) and Jesse Vesel (So.-Hibbing, MN) were credited with the assists. It was Vesel's team-leading eighth assist. The period ended with Stout putting up 17 shots to the Blugold 12.

After Eau Claire outshot Stout 11-to-6 in the middle period, the Blue Devils came back in the third. Just over a minute into the period Derek Hanson tied the game up on an evenhanded shot. The game remained tied going into the final five minutes, but Andy Wiesner struck at 15:07 with an even-sided goal to complete the late Blue Devil comeback.

Eau Claire was outshot 32-28 with Ryan Mensing (So.-Langley, BC/Walnut Grove SS) making 30 saves. Both teams only had two powerplay opportunities, while Eau Claire was the only one to take advantage. The game was rather penalty-free, with two for the Blugolds and five for Stout.

Next weekend features two more NCHA games as Eau Claire faces Lake Forest College (IL) Friday and second-ranked St. Norbert College on Saturday. Both games are away.

Eau Claire-Stout Box Score

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