EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The sixth ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team continued Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Saturday as they hit the road to face off against UW-River Falls. Special teams' play was the deciding factor in the WIAC matchup as UW-Eau Claire score on the power play and on the penalty kill to earn the 2-1 victory.
With the two conference opponents fighting for important conference standings, a heated contest was in order between the Blugolds and the Falcons. The opening period saw UW-Eau Claire come out with fire as they out shot UWRF 12-1. Both netminders held their own in the opening frame as both teams hit the first intermission tied at 0-0.
The second period began with a barrage of penalties as seven of the twelve penalties called during the game came in the second period. UW-Eau Claire was the first to strike at the 5:29 mark as
Trenten Heyde (So. – Atlanta, Ga./Grayson) kept his offensive production rolling and blasted a slap shot from the blue line into the top right corner to convert on the power play. UWEC's first special teams' goal of the night was assisted by
Kyler Grundy (Jr. – Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail Academy) and
Leo Bacallao (So. – Madison, Wis./Vel Phillips Memorial). The Blugolds' second frame lead held for the remainder of the period as they hit the second intermission with a 1-0 lead.
Despite an early penalty in the third period,
Aaron Swanson (Sr. – Sun Prairie, Wis./East) extended the Blugold lead as he forced a turnover in the neutral zone and earned himself a breakaway with the Falcon goaltender. Swanson made a move to his left and then lifted the puck into the top corner off his backhand to score shorthanded. Swanson's second goal of the season was unassisted and was UWEC's first shorthanded goal of the year.
River Falls found their lone goal of the night with just under seven minutes left in regulation. Eau Claire's defense shut the door after that as the Blugolds earned the 2-1 victory away from home.
Max Gutjahr (So. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced in his fourth win of the season. Gutjahr is now 4-1-1 on the year.
The Blugolds (4-1, WIAC 2-1) will be back on the road Friday, November 24
th for the first game of a doubleheader against St. Norbert College. Friday's contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Community Center in De Pere, Wis.
