Hockey | 10/12/2024 6:49:00 PM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston hockey team set the tone early in a heated second game of the season, and a high-scoring first period. The Golden Eagles picked up the 9-4 victory over the Jimmies to sweep the opening series on Homecoming. Minnesota Crookston redeems themselves after opening 2023-24 with a pair of losses to Jamestown.
The Golden Eagles are 2-0-0 after Saturday's result in Crookston. The Jimmies dropped to 4-2-0 after the losses.
Minnesota Crookston was propelled by the play of Fox Dodds (R-Jr., F, Watford City, N.D.), who scored two goals, and notched two assists. Dodds had a big weekend with three goals, and two helpers. Mason Romfo (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) finished an outstanding opening weekend to his collegiate career with a hat trick, scoring three goals. Romfo's goals all came in the third period in a span of 2:13. Romfo scored five goals, and had an assist in his opening weekend. Anthony Foster (So., Warroad, Minn.) tallied a goal, and three assists. Zach Larson (Sr., D, Grand Forks, N.D.) tallied a goal, and a helper. Alexander Bailey (Jr., F, Crosby, N.D.) notched two assists, while Aidan McPhee (So., Brea, Calif.) tallied two assists, as well.
In goal, Wyatt Olsonawski (Jr., Hallock, Minn.) picked up the win. Olsonawski allowed four goals, but made 34 saves. He played a strong second and third period in net for the Golden Eagles, helping keep the Jimmies at bay.
Saturday's game got chippy in moments, as penalties became an issue. Jamestown had seven penalties, while Minnesota Crookston notched four. The Golden Eagles scored three power play goals, while Jamestown did not score on the power play.
Minnesota Crookston started out fast in the first period when Foster found the back of the net off apples from Fox Dodds, and Bailey 1:21 into the game. A little over two minutes later at 3:43, Fox Dodds scored his first of two in the game, with help from Foster, and Bailey to put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-0. In the 11th minute, Logan Syrup (Sr., F, Park River, N.D.) notched a tally, off assists from McPhee, and Ben Hines (So., F, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Just 18 seconds later, the Jimmies struck with a goal from Tanner Freed. Minnesota Crookston kept the streak of goals going as they scored a minute later on a snipe from Larson off assists from Jackson Fuller (Sr., F, Minneapolis, Minn.), and Mitchell Coleman (Sr., F, Hatton, N.D.). Minnesota Crookston scored once again, just 33 seconds later. Aiden Morelli (Jr., F, Minot, N.D.) scored his first Golden Eagle goal, with help from Foster, and Fox Dodds to make it 5-1. The flurry of goals continued as Jamestown scored 29 seconds later off a tally from James Poole, with an assist from Reese Nelson. The Jimmies tallied the final score of a busy first period when Freed scored his second, with help from Poole, and Hunter Rossland in the final minute of the frame. The Golden Eagles went into the first break with a 5-3 lead.
The scoring was much calmer in the second period as Minnesota Crookston notched the only tally with a power-play goal from Fox Dodds off an assist on the face-off from Fuller to push the advantage to 6-3.
The Jimmies scored in the third period in the second minute when James Hooton scored off an assist from James Gadino. Minnesota Crookston responded in the 16th minute with a power-play goal from Romfo, with apples from Foster, and Fuller. Romfo scored again just 48 seconds later, with another power-play tally off helpers from Larson, and Tyler Lorenz (Fr., D, Shakopee, Minn.). Romfo made it a hat trick off an assist from McPhee to put the final score at 9-4.
Xavier Baker was tested in net for the Jimmies. He finished with 53 saves on the night.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road to face the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. October 18 and 19.
