Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Wisconsin-Eau Claire outlasted Saint John's in an offensive frenzy, 6-4, on Friday night, Jan. 17, at the Municipal Athletic Complex (MAC).

The two teams broke a 1-1 stalemate by scoring six goals in the second period, including five (UWEC, 3-2) over a 2:18 span.

Dayne Hoyord gave the Blugolds (6-9-1, 4-3-0 WIAC) a 1-0 lead 8:28 in, but senior captain Matt DeRosa (Alpharetta, Ga.) tied it for SJU (6-8, 3-3 MIAC) with his third goal of the season 42 seconds later. He intercepted an errant crossing pass, skated up the right boards and faded to the top of the left faceoff circle before snapping a wrister to the far post for his 18th career tally.

Charlie Erickson gave the lead back to UWEC 11:49 into the second period before the five-goal flurry gave the visitors a 5-3 lead. 

Sophomore forward Jackson Bisson (Edina, Minn.) tied the game at 2-2 with his second goal of the season and fifth of his career with 4:38 remaining in the second. Eau Claire answered, however, with a pair of goals 33 seconds apart – Eli Reimer and (16:27) and Colin Stein (17:00 on the power play) – for a 4-2 lead. 

Sophomore forward Chris Kernan (Maple Grove, Minn.) cut the deficit to 4-3 with his fifth goal of the year, and fourth in the last three games, 19 seconds after Stein's tally. UWEC was not done, however, as Reimer netted his second goal of the game 21 seconds later.

SJU looked to have scored again, to make it 5-4, with 56 seconds left in the frame but the goal was disallowed due to the net coming off. Sophomore Jackson Borst (Edina, Minn.) attempted a wraparound backhander from behind the net and the UWEC goaltender knocked the net off as the puck crossed the goal line.

The call became critical in the third period as senior Garrett Smith (Eden Prairie, Minn.) made it 5-4 – officially – with his second goal of the season and 20th career point with 5:54 to play.

Reimer ended the scoring by completing the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 28 seconds remaining.

Junior goaltender Jon Howe (Chanhassen, Minn.) made 19 saves in the loss. Senior goaltender Bailey Huber (Mahtomedi, Minn.) relieved him in the third period and stopped all six shots faced.

SJU out-shot UWEC 14-7 in the third period and 33-31 in the game, but went 0-for-4 on the power play against NCAA Division III's top penalty kill.

The Johnnies face No. 12 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (11-4-1, 4-2-1 MIAC) for a 4 p.m. puck-drop on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the MAC.