ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hockey team picked up a big divisional win 5-3 over St. Cloud State University Friday, January 28 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.

The Golden Eagles improved to 10-5-2 (5-2-2 WCCHA) with the victory. Minnesota Crookston has won their last five games. The Golden Eagles are 6-1 in their last seven games. UMN Crookston has jumped St. Cloud State University and North Dakota State University in the Northwest Division standings in the WCCHA. The Golden Eagles now sit in second place behind the University of Minnesota. St. Cloud State falls to 5-4-0 in WCCHA play. Minnesota Crookston is ranked 20^th in the ACHA Central Region rankings.

The Golden Eagles were guided by goals from Dylan Borseth (Jr., F, Williston, N.D.), Austin Ryba (So., F, Thief River Falls, Minn.), Dylan Neubauer (Fr., F, Thompson, N.D.), Tyler Zahradka (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.), and Nikolai Rajala (Fr., F, Coleraine, Minn.). Jackson Fuller (Fr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) had two assists.

In goal, Braden Schmitz (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) allowed three goals and had 29 saves.

St. Cloud State was propelled by two goals from Riley Dixon. In goal, Eric Schmidley allowed four goals, with one goal coming on an empty net. He had 33 saves.

The Huskies jumped on the scoreboard first with a goal at the 11:44 mark from Noah Bissett in the first period. The Golden Eagles evened the slate at the 13:46 mark when Borseth found the back of the net. Minnesota Crookston took the 2-1 lead at the 15:28 mark with a goal from Ryba.

Minnesota Crookston widened their lead to 3-1 in the second period when Neubauer scored at the 7:03 mark off assists from Fuller and Mitchell Coleman (Fr., F, Hatton, N.D.). The Huskies pulled within 3-2 later in the second period with a Dixon goal off assists from Jake Pirkl and Casey Hormann. Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 4-2 with 13:27 on the clock when Zahradka with his team-high 21^st goal off a Fuller assist. St. Cloud State trimmed the deficit to 4-3 with a goal from Dixon.

The Golden Eagles put a stamp on the win with a Rajala empty net goal off a Morneault assist.

Minnesota Crookston posted two short-handed goals on the night.

The Golden Eagles will take on St. Cloud State Saturday, January 29 at 2:05 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.