BLAINE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston took down the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 4-0 to take third place at the WCCHA Tournament at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. The 17th-ranked Golden Eagles picked up the win to earn their best finish at the WCCHA Tournament. UMN Crookston made it to the WCCHA Consolation Championship last season, but lost to the University of Minnesota.

The Golden Eagles improved to 22-5-1 with Sunday's win over the Blugolds. UMN Crookston finished the season with a 2-1 mark against Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

Connor Thoennes (Fr., F, Coleraine, Minn.) got the scoring started for the Golden Eagles in the ninth minute off assists from Mitchell Coleman (So., F, Hatton, N.D.) and Dylan Neubauer (So., F, Thompson, N.D.). The goal was the third of the season for Thoennes. Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 16th minute when Gunner Ferrier (Jr., D, Baudette, Minn.) found the back of the net off apples from Sam Baxter (So., D, Grafton, N.D.) and Tyler Zahradka (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.).

Minnesota Crookston pushed the advantage to 3-0 just over two minutes into the second stanza when Zahradka added a tally off a Jackson Fuller (So., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) helper. 

The Golden Eagles added their final score in the third period with Zahradka's 23rd goal of the season. Fuller and Jake Huska (Jr., D, Snow Lake, Manitoba) assisted on the goal. The tally came on a power play.

Wyatt Olsonawski (Fr., G, Hallock, Minn.) picked up the shutout between the pipes. Olsonawski played all 60 minutes and allowed no goals and had 24 saves.

Francisco Gomez started for the Blugolds and allowed four goals. He notched 28 saves.

Minnesota Crookston now awaits official word on the ACHA Division II Central Region Tournament. The Golden Eagles are currently ranked sixth in the region. The Central Region Tournament will be played at the Maryville University Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo. February 24-26. Teams ranked in seeds 3-6 get a bye in the tournament. The top two teams in the region go straight to the ACHA National Tournament in Marlborough, Mass. The next 12 teams in the rankings play for the final two spots from the region in the ACHA National Tournament.