EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — #RV UW-Eau Claire lost to #15 Saint John's (MN) 5-1 Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Arena after leading 1-0 through one period. Saint John's scored twice in the second period and three times in the third while finishing with a 30-26 shot edge. The Blugolds won 34 of 61 faceoffs and killed four of five power plays, but went 0-for-5 on their own power-play chances.
The Johnnies put the first three shots on
Mason Joseph before UWEC went on an early power play, but Casimir Weckstrom turned aside
Trey Gnetz,
Wyatt Carlson and
Max Dronen to keep it scoreless. After SJU generated chances around its own power play,
Bronson Sabol scored at 10:42 off a Carlson assist to give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead. The Blugolds continued to create chances on a later power play, including shots from Gnetz,
Henry Bartle and
Kade Peterson, while Joseph made several stops the rest of the way to help UW-Eau Claire take the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Joseph handled early pressure during a Saint John's special-teams stretch before Parker Gnos scored on the power play at 17:55, with Jack Wandmacher and Logan Lyke assisting, to tie the game at 1-1. The Blugolds generated chances from
Brent Gulenchyn and Sabol, but after killing another Johnnies power play, Cadyn Campbell scored at 11:18 off a Jibber Kuhl assist to put the visitors ahead 2-1. UWEC had a power play at 8:35 and continued to put shots on Casimir Weckstrom through the later stages of the second, while Joseph made three saves in the final 1:29 as Saint John's carried the 2-1 lead into intermission.
After the Blugolds put early third-period shots toward the net, SJU moved in front 3-1 at 14:21 on Logan Lyke's unassisted even-strength goal. Jordan Larkee added another at 11:32 off assists from Joe Luger and Logan Opgrand, and Joseph later made three saves during a Saint John's power play to get UW-Eau Claire through the penalty kill. The Blugolds created a late power-play stretch after penalties to Jackson Bisson and Jackson Borst, but Casimir Weckstrom stopped attempts from
Easton Inglis,
Kade Peterson and
Connor DeTurris before Seth Terhell scored short-handed at 5:05 to make it 5-1. UWEC continued to press in the closing minutes, including a Gnetz shot off the pipe and another save by Weckstrom, but Saint John's finished off the 5-1 result.
Sabol scored a goal, finished with two shots and posted a +1 rating. Carlson recorded an assist, added two shots and won one faceoff without a loss. Inglis won 14 faceoffs at a 70% rate and added a blocked shot. Joseph finished with 25 saves in goal.
UWEC suffered its first loss of the season falling to 2-1-1 overall. Saint John's (MN) moves to 2-1-1 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds host Bethel University on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire, Wis.
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