Blaine, Minn. – It was a quick turnaround for Minnesota Crookston hockey after their thrilling 5-3 victory a night ago against two-seed Gustavus Adolphus. The Golden Eagles did battle with the top-seeded Golden Gophers of Minnesota this morning in the consolation championship.
 
These two teams would meet earlier in the year in Crookston, with both teams taking a game.
 
The first period would be a period favored heavily by the Golden Eagles. The lower seeded Golden Eagles outshot the Golden Gophers 20-7, including a pair of grade A chances from Nikolai Rajala (Fr., F, Colleraine, Minn.) and Logan Syrup (Fr., F, Park River, N.D.), who was looking to build on his two-goal performance last night.
 
Despite the dominant first period, the Golden Eagles would not find the back of the net in the first 20 minutes and would head into the first intermission tied at zero.
 
After his 33 save performance against the Gusties, Jared Aamold (Fr., G, Breckenridge, Minn.) wasn't very busy in the first 20, making just seven saves on seven shots.
 
In the second period, the Golden Gophers would finally break through. Shane Griffin would sneak one past the right shoulder of Aamold off of a feed from Max Boll to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, midway through the second period.
 
Much like they did in the first period, the Golden Eagles would have ample opportunity to score. Dylan Neubauer (Fr., F, Thompson, N.D.) would hit the outside of the post on a power play late in the second period.
 
The Golden Eagles would be 0-2 on the power play through the first 40 minutes of play. Each team had 13 shots on goal in the second period.
 
The third period would see the Golden Gophers add on another goal as Jack Kisslinger found the puck in the slot and slid it past Aamold.
 
Trailing 2-0, the Golden Eagles would pull Aamold, but the Golden Gophers were able to hold off an almost two minute man advantage for the Golden Eagles and score an empty netter with one second left in the game.
 
Minnesota Crookston outshot the Gophers 39-31 in the game.
 
Now the Golden Eagles will play the waiting game to see if they have made the ACHA Central Region Tournament, which will be finalized tonight.
 
The Golden Eagles will host Williston State College next weekend for a Friday-Saturday series. Puck drop with the Tetons is set for 7 p.m., from the Crookston Sports Center on Friday.