CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hockey team opened up play during the 2023 portion of their schedule with a 10-3 win over St. Cloud State University. The Golden Eagles scored five goals in the final period to continue their great start to the season.
Minnesota Crookston has scored 10 or more goals in four games this season. The Golden Eagles had never scored 10 or more goals as an ACHA Division II squad in their previous two seasons as a program. The Golden Eagles, ranked 19^th nationally and fifth in the Central Region, improved to 15-2 (9-2 WCCHA) with Friday's win over the Huskies. St. Cloud State fell to 0-19 with the loss.

Minnesota Crookston had two players score hat tricks Friday. Zach Larson (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) notched three goals and an assist, as did Logan Syrup (So., F, Park River, N.D.). Syrup leads the Golden Eagles this season with 23 goals and 20 assists. Jackson Fuller (So., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) notched a goal and three assists. Dylan Borseth (Sr., F, Williston, N.D.) chipped in a goal and an assist. Tristan Morneault (Jr., F, Dieppe, New Brunswick) finished with two assists.

In goal, Jared Aamold (So., G, Breckenridge, Minn.) got the start and allowed just one goal with 17 saves. Jake Sumner (Jr., G, Alta Loma, Calif.) played the final 26:38 and had 12 saves.
St. Cloud State looked to two goals from Carter Ashworth. Noah Bissett added two assists. In goal, Eric Schmidley had 37 saves, while Chris Hekrdle had one save.

Minnesota Crookston jumped on to the scoreboard in the fourth minute when Larson found the back of the net off an apple from Morneault. Just over a minute later, Logan Syrup found pay dirt off assists from Fuller and Jake Huska (Jr., D, Snow Lake, Manitoba). The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 when Connor Thoennes (Fr., F, Coleraine, Minn.) stole the puck and fired one past the goalie, to extend the Minnesota Crookston advantage. UMN Crookston found the scoreboard once more in the first period when Larson notched a tally off a Griffen Sonstegard (Fr., D, Baudette, Minn.) assist.

St. Cloud State trimmed the deficit to 4-1 when Dominic Mariani scored an unassisted goal. Minnesota Crookston ended a dry patch when Tyler Zahradka (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) scored off a Syrup assist. The Huskies found the scoreboard again in the final 10 seconds of the second stanza when Ashworth scored off a Bissett apple.

UMN Crookston scored in the fifth minute of the third period to push the tally to 6-2 when Logan Syrup scored off a Fuller helper. In the seventh minute, Borseth scored off a Larson apple. The Golden Eagles kept the rally going in the ninth minute when Fuller stole the puck off the goalie and sniped it past to push UMN Crookston to an 8-2 lead.

St. Cloud State added a power play goal in the 10^th minute when Ashworth scored again off a Bissett helper to cut the deficit to 8-3. Minnesota Crookston answered minutes later when Syrup scored off a Fuller helper. Just over a minute later, Larson completed his hat trick assists from Morneault and Borseth to give UMN Crookston a final score of 10-3.

Minnesota Crookston will look to complete the sweep of the Huskies Saturday, January 14 at 2 p.m. against the Huskies at the Crookston Sports Center.