Hockey | 2/7/2025 11:35:00 PM
Blaine, Minn. - The first matchup of the WCCHA Tournament was set between the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds. In net for the Golden Eagles was Wyatt Olsonawski (Jr., Hallock, Minn.) who entered the game with an 8-1-0 record, a 2.08 goals against average, and a .917 save percentage. Kaleb Bents, he came into today's game with a 7-8-0 record, a 5.06 goals against average, and a .873 save percentage.
The tone was set immediately for these two teams. With plenty of chippy hits, a high number of shots, and difficulty possessing the puck. Anthony Foster (So., F, Warroad, Minn.) ramped up the intensity with a huge hit very early. The Blugolds, however, broke the ice with a goal from Gabriel Bestul just 5:21 into the first. The Golden Eagles wasted no time and scored just a minute and a half later, with Fox Dodds (R-Jr., Watford City, N.D.) burying the one time feed from Anthony Foster. Mason Romfo (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) picked up the secondary assist. Despite both teams getting plenty of offensive chances, Olsonawski and Brents stood tall, keeping the score at 1-1 through the opening 20.
The second period was a battle of the goalies. With Olsonawski and Brents continuing to make flashy saves. The Golden Eagles dominated puck possession in the middle frame, seemingly controlling it for the majority of the period. With just 16 seconds left on the clock, and on a 5-on-3, Logan Syrup (Sr., F, Park River, N.D.) broke the tie with a goal off of another great cross-ice feed from Anthony Foster and Mason Romfo picking up the other assist.
The third period, as always, was where the Golden Eagles really came alive. Just five and a half minutes into the final 20, Tyler Lorenz (Fr., D, Shakopee, Minn.) jumped on the puck in the middle of a scrum and pushed his way through to extend the lead to 3-1, he was assisted by Jackson Fuller (Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) and Logan Syrup. Four minutes later, Jackson Dodds (R-Jr., F, Park River, N.D.) joined in on the fun, deflecting a shot out front from a great pass by Mitchell Coleman (Sr., F, Hatton, N.D.) which was made possible due to the incredible long pass from Zach Larson (Sr., D, Grand Forks, N.D.) to make it 4-1. The Golden Eagles would benefit from another Logan Syrup goal just three minutes after the Jackson Dodds goal, this time he was assisted by Anthony Foster and Tyler Lorenz.
The goal scoring did not stop quite yet, with Fox Dodds scoring his second of the game with just 2:41 left on the clock, and Mason Romfo picking up his third assist. Aidan McPhee (So., D, Brea, Calif.) scored to make it 7-1 a minute later, Rudy Moser (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) and Ben Hines (So., F, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) added on the assists. The Golden Eagles outshot their opponent 55-19, and outscored their opponent 7-1 to advance to the WCCHA Semifinals.
The Golden Eagles are set to faceoff with the University of Wisconsin tomorrow, February 8th, at 2 p.m.
