Freshman Bruno Birzitis (Riga, Latvia/Riga Distance Education Secondary) scored at 11:31 in the first overtime period of the decisive mini-game, as the University of Wisconsin Superior completed a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first round series victory over the University of Wisconsin Stout. Earlier in the night, the Yellowjackets scored three goals in the third period to defeat the Blue Devils 4-2 in game two of the series in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

The first 20-minute session of the minigame was not enough to declare a victor after UW-Superior (8-17-2) evened the series at a game apiece on Saturday night, and after a resurface, the Yellowjackets scored halfway through the first sudden-victory extra session to take home a series victory and advance to a semifinal series match-up with the top-seeded and No. 4-ranked University of Wisconsin Stevens Point next week in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Senior Anton Svensson (Sodertalje, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) had a hat trick, including the game-clinching empty net score in the closing moments of game two earlier Saturday evening. Svensson got the scoring started and gave UW-Superior a lead just before the end of the opening period, netting his first of the day at 18:17 of the first, assisted by junior Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor H.S.) and senior Jordan Neduzak (Morden, Man./Morden Collegiate Institute). UW-Stout had the answer midway through the second period, when Connor Bump scored at 13:06, assisted by Connor Valesano.

Svensson scored his second of the day early in the third, once again assisted by Ecklund and also senior Matt Audette (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln H.S.) at 6:35 of the period. Freshman Liam Blais (Uxbridge, Ont./Uxbridge Secondary) added to the lead just over three minutes later, putting the Yellowjackets up by two at 9:57 assisted by sophomore Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) and Birzitis. After the Blue Devils pulled their goalie in the closing seconds, Valesano pulled Stout within one at 19:12 of the third, assisted by Karl Andersen and Jack Forbort. Svensson added the clincher just seconds later with another helper from Audette.

Junior Kyle Miller (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake H.S.) had 27 saves in picking up the victory for UW-Superior, while Spencer Viele stopped 30 pucks before being pulled for the extra attacker for 45 seconds closing out the game. The Yellowjackets finished 0-for-4 on the powerplay, while the Blue Devils were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

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UW-Superior and UW-Stevens Point will face off to begin their WIAC semifinal series on Friday night. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m. in Stevens Point.