MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — UW-Eau Claire defeated Augsburg 3-1 Friday at Augsburg Ice Arena. The Blugolds scored twice on the power play and finished 2-for-4 with the advantage, while holding Augsburg scoreless on seven power-play chances. UWEC also blocked 20 shots, won 26 faceoffs and received 22 saves.
Niko Laus put the Blugolds in front at 3:57, scoring at even strength off a
Henry Bartle assist for a 1-0 lead. Augsburg spent much of the rest of the first period on the power play after four Blugolds penalties, but the Blugolds blocked multiple attempts and
Mason Joseph made saves through those advantages. After
Dayne Hoyord's penalty expired with 33 seconds left, Augsburg took a roughing penalty in the final seconds, and UW-Eau Claire carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
After the Blugolds generated several early looks, Augsburg tied the game at 1-1 when Nolan Nenow scored at 12:57 off assists from Landon Parker and Grant Dardis. The Blugolds killed off
Trey Gnetz's holding penalty, with Joseph stopping two
Cameron Bullinger attempts during the Augsburg power play. UW-Eau Claire moved back in front on a power play at 8:03 when
Nolan Grier scored from Bartle and
Logan Ganz, then added another power-play goal at 3:03 as Ganz finished off assists from Bartle and Grier. The Blugolds held that 3-1 lead through the end of the second period.
After Augsburg generated the first looks of the third period, UWEC pushed back with a stretch of attempts from
Carter Bradley,
Gavin O'Hara,
Trey Gnetz, Bartle,
Connor DeTurris and Ganz. The Blugolds' main defensive sequence came after
Joel Hanson was assessed a five-minute hitting-from-behind penalty at 12:44, as Joseph made multiple saves and the Blugolds added blocks from
Noah Ziskie and Laus to kill the Auggies power play. Ganz hit the pipe at 6:48, and a Jace Fitzgerald interference penalty one second later gave UW-Eau Claire a power play that generated looks from Bartle, Gnetz and
Easton Inglis before Auggies returned to full strength. Augsburg called timeout after a shot at 4:28, emptied its net at 2:56 and gained a late power play on
Max Dronen's slashing penalty at :48, but Joseph saved Nolan Nenow's shot and Inglis blocked Mario Gasparini's final attempt as the Blugolds closed out a scoreless third period and a 3-1 win.
Bartle recorded three assists and added a +1 rating. Grier scored a power-play goal, added an assist and was credited with the game-winning goal. Ganz tallied a power-play goal and an assist while putting three shots on goal. Joseph finished with 22 saves and allowed one goal.
The Blugolds advance to 2-0-1 overall while Augsburg falls to 1-2-0 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds host Saint John's University on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire, Wis.
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