Hockey | 2/22/2025 1:08:00 PM
La Crosse, Wisc. - Golden Eagle Hockey was ready for their day two Regionals matchup with the Marian Sabres, with the two teams battling for a spot in the day three games. For the Golden Eagles, Adam Goody (So., G, Airdrie, Alberta) would reclaim the net after yesterday's 19 save effort. In net for the Sabres was Tyler McArthur who entered the game with a 14-3-0 record, a 2.26 goals against average, and a .925 save percentage.
The game was not even two minutes old before the Sabres took the 1-0 lead off of a goal from Simon Ellingson. 32 seconds later, on a partial breakaway, Fox Dodds (R-Jr., F, Watford City, N.D.) fired a wrist shot on the high blocker side of McArthur to even things at one apiece. Logan Syrup (Sr., F, Park River, N.D.) and Jackson Dodds (R-Jr., F, Watford City, N.D.) collected the assists on the Golden Eagles first goal of the game. Both teams, who were now more familiar with each other, tried to set their own tone. Neither team necessarily dominated the opening period, but 10 and a half minutes after his last goal, Fox Dodds was on the board again with a five-hole goal to take the 2-1 lead, it was Griffen Sonstegard (Jr., D, Baudette, Minn.) who picked up this assist. The Golden Eagles got a few more high level chances, but McArthur turned them away. The period ended with the Golden Eagles in front 2-1.
The second period was a much different story. The start, however, was eerily similar. The Sabres tied things up just a minute in with a goal from Serge Simard. The Golden Eagles did not respond immediately this time. What happened next was a battle between the two teams for supremacy, with neither team having an edge. That was until Jackson Sweeney gained the lead back for the Sabres, and Steve Johnson made the tough decision to make a change in net, swapping out Adam Goody for Tyler Swanson (Fr., G, Moorhead, Minn.) down 3-2.
Seven minutes went by without any goals, and one Golden Eagles powerplay. With six minutes left in the middle frame, Jackson Fuller (Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) knocked home a rebound on an open night to tie things back up. Mason Romfo (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) and Anthony Foster (So., F, Warroad, Minn.) tallied the assists. Nine seconds later, Jackson Dodds fired one past McArthur to give a 4-3 lead to the Golden Eagles. His goal was assisted by Fox Dodds and Logan Syrup. 43 seconds went by before Aiden Morelli (Jr., F, Minot, N.D.) flipped a puck on net, bouncing it off of a Sabres defenseman, and fluttering into the net. The Golden Eagles, now up 5-3 after three goals in 52 seconds, carried the lead into the third.
What happened over the course of the next 20 minutes was some of the most intense hockey this program has seen. The Sabres hit desperation mode as soon as the puck was down for the final frame, and the Golden Eagles had to tame the Sabres high energy attack. Marian continuously attempted to maintain possession and get pucks on net, but the Golden Eagles blocked everything that they tried to put on net. 12 minutes into the third, Logan Syrup made a ridiculous move in tight and got the sixth Golden Eagles goal past McArthur. The Dodds brothers picked up the two assists on this goal. A minute later, the Sabres were back within two goals thanks to a goal from Chris Regan. With three minutes left on the clock, the Sabres pulled their goalie. The Golden Eagles got a few chances on the empty net before Anthony Foster dug deep and skated past the defense and slid home the empty net goal. Mason Romfo and Tyler Lorenz (Fr., F, Shakopee, Minn.) added the assists.
The Golden Eagles closed out the 7-4 win, and are heading to Day Three of the Central Regionals. Their opponent and time are to be determined.
