Blaine, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston hockey competed in the program's first WCCHA Conference Tournament game on Friday night, doing battle with three seeded Wisconsin Eau-Claire. The Blugolds exploded for three second period goals to knock off sixth-seeded Minnesota Crookston, 4-3.
 
The Golden Eagles will play two-seed Gustavus Adolphus at 8 p.m., tomorrow night in the consolation bracket.
 
In the first 20 minutes, the ice would be tilted the way of the Golden Eagles. After a ton of chances on goal, the maroon and gold finally was able to put one past Francisco Gomez. Tristan Morneault (So., F, Dieppe, New Brunswick) would hammer home a rebound off of a Gunner Ferrier (So., D, Baudette, Minn.) shot to make it 1-0. Tyler Zahradka (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would collect the second assist.
 
The first period would end 1-0.
 
Wisconsin-Eau Claire would score a second period goal with 13:33 left in the second period and then would score two more later in the second stanza to take a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
 
In the third period, the Golden Eagles would come out with energy. Morneault would go five-hole on the Blugolds net minder to cut the lead back to one at 3-2.
 
Wisconsin-Eau Claire would score the game-winning goal at the 6:55 mark of the period, scoring on a two on one breakaway.
 
Head Coach Steve Johnson would have to pull Jared Aamold (Fr., G, Breckenridge, Minn.) with a little over two minutes in the game. The move would pay off as Nathan Huot (Fr., D, Red Lake Falls, Minn.) would score after a wild scrum in front of the net to make it 4-3 with 1:35 left in the game.
 
Minnesota Crookston would have two more great chances in the final seconds, but couldn't find the back of the net.
 
Morneault collected two goals on the night, while Zahradka had two assists, as did Ferrier.
 
Minnesota Crookston will look to rebound tomorrow night against the Gusties from the Blaine Sports Center.