Hockey | 11/15/2024 10:09:00 PM

Crookston, Minn. - The Golden Eagles and Royals were underway for the first of two games in Crookston. For the Golden Eagles, Wyatt Olsonawski (So., G, Hallock, Minn.) would take the net. He entered the night with a 3-1-0 record, posting a 2.74 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. The Royals would start Logan Hendrickson, who came in with a 2-3-0 record, a 5.14 goals against average, and an .867 save percentage.

The intensity was slow to start, but rapidly picked up as the period went on. Both teams were controlling the puck well, but the Golden Eagles were the ones getting chances. Just under 10 minutes into the opening 20, Fox Dodds (R-Jr., F, Watford City, N.D.) would bury a shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 opportunity, with Ben Hines (So., F, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) providing the cross-crease pass for the lone assist. Eight minutes later, Mason Romfo (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) would net his 13th goal of the season, this one coming on the powerplay, he was assisted by Anthony Foster (So., F, Warroad, Minn.) and Tristan Morneault (Sr., F, Dieppe, New Brunswick) for Morneault's first point of the season. Just 18 seconds would pass before Royals forward Alex Gellnar would cut the lead to one. The period would come to an end with the Golden Eagles leading 2-1, and leading in shots 11-8.

The second period saw a large increase in intensity, more hits were thrown and more shots taken overall. But this period was one for Olsonawski and Hendrickson. The two goalies stopped every single shot faced, totaling 24 saves. Olsonawski had six, while Hendrickson stopped all 16 faced. The second period would close out with the same 2-1 on the scoreboard. 

The Golden Eagles entered the third period outshooting the Royals 29-14 and leading 2-1. Olsonawski closed out strong, saving all four shots faced. The Golden Eagles would tally another special teams goal as Anthony Foster fired a rocket into the net as Hendrickson did not slide over fast enough to have a chance at making the stop. Foster's goal was assisted by Tyler Lorenz (Fr., D, Shakopee, Minn.) and Mason Romfo. The Golden Eagles ended up with 21 third period shots, and closed it out for the 3-1 victory.

The Golden Eagles outshot their opponent 50-18, with Olsonawski making 17 saves. The Golden Eagles point leaders tonight were Anthony Foster with a goal and an assist, his goal would also stand as the game winning goal, and Mason Romfo who also tallied a goal and an assist.

The University of Minnesota Crookston and Lake Region State will be back for game two tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center.