BLAINE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hockey program used an offensive barrage to rout Bethel University 12-2 Friday, November 4 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. The Golden Eagles scored their most goals since returning to the ice as an ACHA Division II program in 2020. Minnesota Crookston has scored 10 or more goals twice this season. The Golden Eagles were ignited by hat tricks from Logan Syrup (So., F, Park River, N.D.) and Tyler Zahradka (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.).

The Golden Eagles keep their unblemished mark, pushing their record to 5-0-0 (5-0-0 WCCHA). UMN Crookston remains at the top of the WCCHA Northwest Division standings. Bethel dropped to 2-1 with the loss.

Zach Larson (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) got Minnesota Crookston on the scoreboard first seven minutes into the game with his second goal of the season to put UMN Crookston ahead 1-0. The assists came from Logan Syrup and Jake Huska (Jr., D, Snow River, Manitoba). The Golden Eagles struck just seconds later at the 6:50 mark to widen the gap to 2-0 over the Royals with a goal from Mitchell Coleman (So., F, Hatton, N.D.) off a Larson apple. Zahradka extended the Minnesota Crookston advantage in the 14^th minute with his fourth goal of the season, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 advantage off a helper from Casey Kallock (Sr., D, Alvarado, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston again scored 28 seconds later to widen the gap to 4-0 as Zahradka found glory for the fifth time this season, off assists from Larson and Logan Syrup.

Bethel got on the scoreboard in the 16^th minute to trim the deficit to 4-1 with a goal from Brandt Botterill off a Ryan Ackerman assist. UMN Crookston responded near the end of the period with a Logan Syrup goal off assists from Kallock and Griffen Sonstegard (Fr., D, Baudette, Minn.) to go into intermission with a 5-1 advantage.

The Royals got on the scoreboard first in the second stanza, trimming the deficit to 5-2 9:31 into the period off a goal from Erik Brecheisen, with the helper from Botterill. Huska responded as he fired one in between the pipes to push the Minnesota Crookston lead to 6-2 at the 11:14 mark of the second period off assists from Dylan Borseth (Sr., F, Williston, N.D.) and Zahradka. UMN Crookston came right back 37 seconds later to push the advantage to 7-2 as Jackson Fuller (So., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) scored off assists from Coleman and Larson. The Golden Eagles continued their scoring barrage as Logan Syrup found paydirt again, pushing the advantage to 8-2. Assists came from Spencer Dahlquist (Jr., D, Maple Grove, Minn.) and Kallock. Syrup struck again late in the second period to complete his hat trick, pushing the lead to 9-2 heading into the second break. Borseth notched an apple on the goal.

Minnesota Crookston ignited for three goals in under four minutes to open the third period, pushing the advantage to 12-2 over the Royals. Coleman struck first 2:30 into the period off a Fuller helper. 19 seconds later, Fuller found pay dirt off a Syrup assist. 17 seconds later, Zahradka scored off a Borseth assist.

UMN Crookston was guided by Syrup's hat trick. He had three goals and three assists. Zahradka also had a hat trick and added an assist. Coleman had two goals and an assist. Fuller notched two goals. Larson finished with a goal and three assists. Huska had a goal and an assist. Kallock and Borseth each had three assists.

Jake Sumner (Jr., G, Alta Loma, Calif.) got the win in goal, allowing just two goals, with 15 saves on the game. Logan Moe faced 54 shots on goal during Friday's game, he saved 42 and allowed 12 goals.

Minnesota Crookston takes on Bethel in game two of the series Saturday, November 5 at 1:10 p.m. at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.