The University of Wisconsin-Superior broke through with a late score but fell for the second consecutive night at Wessman Arena as Hamline University knocked off UWS 5-1 on Saturday night in Superior.
After a quiet opening period on the scoring front, the action quickly heated up in the second period. Six coincidental penalties were assessed for roughing after a tussle behind the Yellowjacket net at 3:32 of the period, but the two teams would skate on 5-on-5. Hamline (3-0-2) broke through with the first score of the game when senior Brandon Wahlin slipped one through the Yellowjacket defense, getting an assist from junior Cody Bentzel. The two teams would trade shots through the middle of the period, but Hamline broke through with its second of the day, this time on the powerplay, at 12:17 of the second when junior Russ Jordan ripped a wrist shot from the left face-off circle, getting an assist from junior Jesse Kessler.
UW-Superior (RV, 3-2-0) got on the board with a short-handed score by sophomore
Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.), who stole a puck out of the corner behind the Hamline net and skated in alone, netting his fourth of the year, at 9:27 of the third period. The Pipers answered moments later, making good on a 3-on-1 chance with Tom O'Borsky scoring for the road team. They would push the lead out to 4-1 at 13:29 when Tyler Gonzales took a shot that bounced over the top of the Yellowjacket goaltender, bouncing off his helmet and down his back before trickling into the net. With a chance on the powerplay with 2:22 remaining, UWS pulled goalie
Bryce Fink (Tacoma, Wash./Keystone H.S.) for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Dan Bartkowiack scored a short-handed empty netter to extend the Hamline lead out to 5-1.
The Yellowjackets finished 0-for-6 on the powerplay, while Hamline was 1-for-6. Fink had 34 saves for UW-Superior, while Justin Quale made 29 stops for the Pipers. Senior
Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Man./Morden Collegiate Institute) had five shots to lead the Yellowjackets with senior
Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) and sophomore
Viktor Sallhag (Vasteras, Sweden/Wenströmska Gymnasium) each adding four.
UP NEXT
UW-Superior will be on the road next week as non-conference action continues for the team. The Yellowjackets take on St. Norbert College in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin next Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.