CROOKSTON, Minn. - Minnesota Crookston Hockey trailed 3-1 in the second period but had a major comeback to triumph over the University of Minnesota. The two U of M teams played at the Crookston Sports Center in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles closed the gap with a goal at the end of the second period and an equalizer in the third period. Ultimately, Minnesota Crookston got the win with a goal in overtime.
The Golden Eagles improved 1-2 (1-2 WCCHA) with the defeat over the Golden Gophers. The University of Minnesota dropped to 1-5 with the upset. Minnesota Crookston has the 4-3 edge in this maroon and gold series.
Minnesota Crookston was led by Nathan Ayotte (Fr., F, Morris, Manitoba) with a goal and an assist and Tyler Zahradka (Sr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) who also contributed a goal and an assist.
The Golden Eagles were first on the board with a Zach Larson (Sr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) goal on a power play assisted by Ayotte and Dylan Borseth (Sr., F, Williston, N.D.). The goal came quickly in the first period at the 8:50 mark.
The Golden Gophers didn't wait to get back in the game and notched the equalizer less than a minute later at the 9:30 mark with a goal by TJ Kouba from Joey Greenlund and Devin Huie assists.
University of Minnesota took the lead 2-1 with 10:07 on the clock in the second period with a Devin Huie goal, assisted by Henry Lawrence and Roy Cheballo. A few minutes later, the Golden Gophers extended their lead to 3-1 over the Golden Eagles when Tyler Czerniak scored off assists from Noah Mogren and Eric Choi. The goal came at the 16:14 mark in the second period.
Devin Huie had a big game for the Golden Gophers with a goal and an assist, but it wasn't enough to keep the University of Minnesota in the game.
The Golden Eagles started their comeback shortly after the Golden Gopher's final goal. Mitchell Coleman (Jr., F, Hatton, N.D.) scored with 18:59 on the clock in the second period off the rebound from a Jackson Fuller (Jr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) shot.
With the momentum going into the third period, Zahradka got on the board to tie the game up with the help of Griffen Sonstegard (So., D, Baudette, Minn.) and Anthony Foster (Fr., F, Warroad, Minn.) This took the maroon and gold match up into overtime where Ayotte scored the game-winning goal, which was assisted by Jake Huska (Sr., D, Preeceville, Saskatchewan) and Zahradka.
In this shot heavy game, the Golden Eagles ended with 54 shots on the board compared to the Golden Gopher's 46 shots. Minnesota Crookston was 1-of-5 on power plays, while University of Minnesota was 0-of-3.
Both goalkeepers had huge games defensively. Wyatt Olsonawski (So., G, Hallock, Minn.) tallied 43 saves, and Owen Peterson tallied 50.
Minnesota Crookston will face the Golden Gophers for the final match-up of the series on Saturday, October 21 at 2 p.m., in Crookston, Minn.
