Hockey | 10/9/2026 10:42:00 PM
Crookston, Minn. - Puckdrop is underway for the start of the Golden Eagle hockey season. The Golden Eagles open the season against a familiar opponent in the Lake Region State Royals, a team the Golden Eagles are 3-0-1 against all-time. In net for the University of Minnesota Crookston was #30 Adam Goody (Sr., G, Airdrie, Alberta) and for the Royals, Nathaniel Bowlby. The Golden Eagles faced a 4-2 deficit in the third, but completed the comeback and won 6-5 in overtime.
The first period was a low-event period, with just one goal by each team. It took a while too, with the Royals opening the goal scoring. Weston Nelson had the opening goal, scoring with 3:50 remaining in the period. Anthony Foster (Sr., F, Warroad, Minn.) did not take long to respond, scoring on a fortuitous bounce just over a minute later. His tally was unassisted. That would bring an end to the first period, with a 1-1 tie and the goalies playing strong hockey.
The second period is where things got busy. The Golden Eagles took a very early lead, with Tyler Lorenz (Jr., D, Shakopee, Minn.) ripping a point shot through the five-hole of Bowlby. The good times, however, did not keep rolling for the Golden Eagles. Three and a half minutes after taking the 2-1 lead, the Golden Eagles saw their opponent tie the game on a goal by Tyler Rogers. Things got messy following the tying goal, with the Golden Eagles heading to a 5-on-3 penalty kill. On this Royals powerplay, they would reclaim the lead they had in the first period with an unassisted goal from Ethen Church. Less than a minute after taking a 3-2 lead, the Royals extended the lead to two goals with a goal by Matthew Wherley. 4-2 finished out as the score heading into the third period, the Golden Eagles were looking to mount a comeback.
It did not take long for the Golden Eagles to draw within one, as just 2:47 into the final frame, Landon Siemens (Fr., D, Bottineau, N.D.) scored on a laser from the point for his first career goal. Walker McGillis (Fr., F, Mayville, N.D.) collected his first career point with the primary assist, and Anthony Launderville (Fr., F, Duluth, Minn.) collected his first career point with the secondary assist. With 6:21 left in the first period, off of a bad turnover by the Royals, Braden Van de Kraats (Jr., F, Medicine Hat, Alberta) stepped up and put his all into a huge slapshot right past the glove hand of Bowlby, and the game was tied. However, just 12 seconds later, the Royals reclaimed that lead when Wherley snapped the puck over Goody's left shoulder for his second of the game. With just 37.5 seconds on the clock and the Golden Eagles' net empty, Ben Hines (Sr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) whipped around and fired a shot right through the five-hole of Bowlby and the game was even at five. Mason Romfo (Jr., F, Langdon, N.D.) had the only assist. The shots were 37-37, and we were bound for overtime.
The two sides ended the third period with each taking a roughing penalty, Tyler Lorenz and Weston Nelson opened overtime in the box. A little over a minute into overtime, the Golden Eagles were heading to the penalty kill. The Royals were in a perfect position to take the game with an upset, but Adam Goody stood tall and turned away every shot he faced in the extra frame. Right as Tyler Lorenz emerged from the box, the Royals tried to pass the puck to their defenseman at the point where the puck skipped right over his stick and found the tape of a streaking Tyler Lorenz. Lorenz came in all alone and rifled a shot from the slot, and the Golden Eagles completed the comeback.
The Golden Eagles and Royals will be back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Crookston Sports Center. The University of Minnesota Crookston will look to complete the weekend sweep before heading on the road for four straight weekends.
