Box Score Box Score
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The St. Scholastica hockey team lost its season opener tonight at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire by a score of 4-1 at the Hobbs Ice Center.
Even though both teams are in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), tonight's contest was a non-conference match. The Saints are now winless against the Blugolds in the last four meetings. The CSS fell to the Blugolds in last year's season opener by a score of 5-3 at Mars Lakeview.
After a scoreless first period, the Blugolds got on the board when Joe Bluhm put the puck in the net at the 13:07-mark of the second period. That would be the lone goal of the second period.
Eau Claire extended its lead a little over five minutes into the third period on an even-handed goal by Larry Kincaid. The Saints scored their first goal of the season halfway through the third period when #Joey Martini# (Sr.-Calgary, Alberta) scored a power-pay goal. #Jordan Baird# (Jr.-Port McNeill, British Columbia) had the assist.
The Blugolds went back up by two goals when Nicholas Kuqali scored an unassisted goal 2:02 later to make the score 3-1. Eau Claire's Brant Marple added a power-play goal with 55 seconds left in the game as the Blugolds defeated the Saints 4-1.
Eau Claire out-shot CSS 36-26. #Steve Bounds# (Sr.-Airdrie, Alberta) had 32 saves in net for St. Scholastica. Tyler Brigl had 25 saves to earn the win for the Blugolds. The Saints were 1-for-8 on the power-play and the Blugolds were 1-for-6. There were 14 combined penalties in the contest.
The Saints will be in action again on Friday when they play at Saint Mary's University. The action begins at 7 p.m.
