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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Ian Ecklund
Jade Jensen

Men's Hockey

Yellowjackets Let Another One Slip Away

Ian Ecklund
Box Score

MSOE 3, Yellowjackets 2

For Yellowjacket faithful the 2015-16 season is a season that started off with a great deal of promise. Three consecutive wins, followed by a tie against one of the top teams in the nation had the Yellowjackets garnering votes in the national polls and cracking the top 15 in the nation. Since that time, however, it has been all downhill.

Since that 3-0-0 start the Yellowjackets have struggled, and many times it has been their own doing. Friday night was no exception. After grabbing the lead in the second period, their third lead in as many games, the Yellowjackets once again broke under the pressure and let the game slip away. The Milwaukee School of Engineering scored twice in the final 2:09 of regulation to once again break the Yellowjackets' hearts, sending them to a 3-2 defeat Friday night at Wessman Arena.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Yellowjackets, who are winless in their last nine games and haven't come out on top since an overtime winner against Augsburg November 6.

Friday the Raiders won the game when James Ring came down the slot and directed a centering pass home with just 16.7 seconds left in regulation time. The Yellowjackets missed an opportunity to clear the zone and Ring finished off the play with his third goal of the season.

After a scoreless first period the Yellowjackets drew first blood at 12:06 of the second period when Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) made a perfect from the left circle to the slot and Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior), who had numerous chances to score early in the hockey game, made no mistake this time, burying his third of the season to give the Yellowjackets the 1-0 lead.

Just 21 seconds later it went to 2-0 when Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) scored his fourth of the year, finishing off a set up from Dylan Nelson (Clearwater, Minn./Annandale) at 12:27.

But as has been the case too often this season, the Yellowjackets went shorthanded and the opposition made them pay. Kajon McKay (Warbowden, Manitoba/Portage Collegiate Institute) was sent to the box just 15 seconds after Ecklund's goal, followed quickly by Matt Audette (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) to give the Raiders a two-man power play. They converted on the front end as Omar Mullan scored his second of the year from between the circles to cut the lead in half at 2-1 wtih 5:29 to play in the second period.

The Yellowjackets killed off the remainder of the power play, but the damage was done and the Raiders began to build momentum. MSOE carried the play the rest of the period, and only the strong goaltending of Ethan Wood (Jasper, Alberta/Paul Kane) kept the score at 2-1.

MSOE picked up where they left off in the third period, again holding a territorial advantage early. They had a great chance to tie the game when McKay was assessed a five-minute major at 5:24, but the Yellowjacket penalty kill came through in the clutch to preserve the lead.

The Raiders continued to press, rattling a pair of shots off the post in the middle stages of the period and testing Wood and the Yellowjackets numerous times, but they were unable to get the equalizer.

As the third period wound down the Yellowjackets had difficulty clearing the zone. On one attempt the puck stayed low, and following a scramble in front the puck came free to Brandon Unser, who poked his third goal of the year into a wide open net, tying the game at 2-2 with 2:09 to play.

MSOE continued to pressure, and forced the Yellowjackets into another mistake, leading to Ring's heroics in the final minute.

Following Ring's goal the Yellowjackets had an opportunity with an offensive zone faceoff, but it didn't yield a shot on goal.

Wood played a strong game in net for the Yellowjackets, finishing the night with 23 saves. His record falls to 0-2-0. At the other end Nick Kohn was steady and earned the win with 24 saves.

MSOE took four penalties for eight minutes in the game, while the Yellowjackets took five penalties for 13 minutes. On the power play MSOE, who entered the game with just two power play goals in 31 chances, went 1-for-4. The Yellowjackets were scoreless in three power play chances.

The Yellowjackets (3-7-2, 0-2-0 WIAC) will look to close out 2015 on a winning note when they play the Raiders in game two of their weekend series Saturday at Wessman Arena. Game time is set for 5:05 p.m. and it can be heard live on 91.3 FM. You can also watch the game live through our online streaming partner the iFan Sports Network. Jon Garver will have the call.

UW-Superior will be collecting toys for the 2015 "Toys for Tots" toy drive at Saturday's game. All toys collected will be donated to the Superior Fire Department's annual toy drive and be distributed to kids in Superior and the surrounding area this holiday season. The Yellowjackets will be wearing special ugly sweater jerseys Saturday, and those will be auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to Yellowjacket Athletics. After the men's game both the Yellowjacket men's and women's hockey teams will be taking the ice for the annual "Skate with the 'Jackets" skating party. There is no cost to skate with the 'Jackets and skates can be rented for a small fee at Wessman Arena.
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Players Mentioned

Matt Audette

#3 Matt Audette

D
5' 10"
Junior
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Dylan Nelson

#18 Dylan Nelson

D
5' 11"
Sophomore
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

F
5' 8"
Junior
Daniel Litchke

#10 Daniel Litchke

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Ethan Wood

#35 Ethan Wood

G
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matt Audette

#3 Matt Audette

5' 10"
Junior
D
Ian Ecklund

#4 Ian Ecklund

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
Dylan Nelson

#18 Dylan Nelson

5' 11"
Sophomore
D
Anton Svensson

#11 Anton Svensson

5' 8"
Junior
F
Daniel Litchke

#10 Daniel Litchke

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Ethan Wood

#35 Ethan Wood

6' 1"
Freshman
G