NEWS

In an important series for both teams, the University of Wisconsin-Superior took advantage of home ice to get a hard-fought series against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Saturday’s game was a highly entertaining, back-and-forth affair between two teams eager to get their first Divisional win. The Eagles built a lead in the first, scoring twice within a minute for a 2 goal lead. Zach Heidel netted at 8:17, followed shortly thereafter by Jakob Schappel. The 2-0 advantage held into the second, where UW-Superior turned the tide. Ryan Herrick put the momentum back with Superior with an unassisted tally, with Matt Brenno and Herrick (again) scoring to turn the game around 3-2 after the second.

Early in the third, it looked like it might become a route for the home team. Mark Shold scored under two minutes in, followed by Peter Miller at 7:45 to grow the lead to 5-2. To their credit, UWL came roaring back. Over the course of 2 minutes, 3 total goals scored by Connor Julius, Jack Sclinsog and Jaxon Carr leveled the game at 5-5. Yet, the scoring wasn’t done. The Yellowjackets responded in kind, first through Ryan Herrick, who completed his hat trick, and then an important seventh from Miller. UWL’s Heidel narrowed the lead to one goal with under 2 minutes, but the scoring was finally done as the hosts earned a 7-6 win.

Sunday’s matinee was not as high scoring, but equally entertaining as Superior completed their sweep. After a scoreless first, Ryan Herrick got the party started early in the second with a goal after one minute, and followed it up 10 minutes later to increase the lead to 2. With 4 minutes left, Matt Brenno scored what would become the game winner to make it 3-0. Before the break, though, UWLAX got on the board through Connor Julius to make it 3-1 after the second.

The game tightened in the final period of the weekend, as the Eagles pushed for the comeback in hopes of leaving with a share of the points. With 8 minutes gone, the lead was down to one as Jadon Motquin scored unassisted. At 3-2 with the clock winding down, La Crosse pushed forward in search of the tying goal. Instead, though, a turnover led to a UWS chance and Matt Brenno confirmed the result, putting the game to bed with the 4th and final goal. As the clock hit zeros, the Yellowjackets earned the 4-2 win and first ever WCCHA series win.

For UW-Superior, Ryan Herrick had a monster weekend with 8 total points from 5 goals and 3 assists, including a hat trick on Friday. Ben Belisle earned both wins in net for UWS. UW-La Crosse’s Jadon Motquin and Jack Schlinsog shared the team lead with 3 points each, while Dakota Pickhard and Erik Johnson each took a loss.

With two wins, UW-Superior improved to 2-4-0 in the Southeast and moved into solo 5th with series left against 4th place Minnesota State and second place UW-Eau Claire - big opportunities to make a move towards qualification.

For UW-Superior, two loses keeps the Eagles winless in the Division at 0-4-0, but with games in hand an an opportunity yet to move up with divisional matchups against St. Thomas, Wisconsin and Minnesota State remaining.