EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The ninth-ranked UW-Eau Claire hockey team scored four goals in the final 6:27 of the first period Friday to take command and went on to an 8-1 nonconference win over Lawrence University in the season opener for both teams.
Mac Jansen had two goals and two assists for the Blugolds, who had just a 28-23 edge in shots.
After the Vikings failed to cash in on a two-man advantage midway through the first period, the Blugolds struck first on the power play. Jansen scored on the man-advantage at the 13:33 mark for a 1-0 edge. Eau Claire went 3-for-5 on the power play, and the Vikings were 0-for-8.
Garrett Clemment made it 2-0 with a goal at the 15:02 mark, and Todd Koritzinsky scored just 1:06 later for a 3-0 edge. Colton Wolter capped the outburst with a goal at the 18:18 mark.
The Blugolds added two goals in the first 11 minutes of the second period before Lawrence got on the board. The Vikings’ Nick Felan scored off an assist from Lane King at the 13:17 mark.
Jay Deo made 22 saves to pick up the win for Eau Claire. Mattias Soderqvist made 13 saves for the Vikings before exiting midway through the second period. Greg Procopio made seven saves in relief.
Lawrence is back in action on Saturday when the Vikings travel to No. 1 UW-Stevens Point.