UW-Superior 6, St. Mary's 3
SUPERIOR, Wis. (January 5, 2018) – Superior felt the pressure in the final period of play Friday night at Wessman Arena, but two goals apiece for Bruno Birzitis (Riga, Latvia/Riga Distance Education Secondary) and Andrew Durham (Plano, Texas/Plano East) helped produce six goals on the night, getting the convincing win.
St. Mary's was first to get on the board, scoring at 6:43 of the first period. The 'Jackets would fire shots in the early going, but both teams were throwing checks and making contact throughout the first. Superior would find twin in the final minute of the period, as Daniel Litchke (Superior, Wis./Superior) scored his eighth of the season on assists from Andrew Durham (Plano, Texas/Plano East) and Dylan Nelson (Clearwater, Minn./Annandale), tying the game 1-1 into the first intermission.
It continued to be rough in the early minutes of the second. Superior would find their first lead at 3:35 of the game as Colton Nelson (Hershey, Pa./Edmond North) wristed a laser just above the right circle past the stick shoulder of the Cardinal goaltender, making it 2-1.
The scoring didn't end there, Durham connected his second of the season at 11:10 on assists from Ian Ecklund (Twig, Minn./Proctor) and Troy York (Plano, Texas/Plano West), who recorded his first point in a Yellowjacket uniform after transferring from RPI just days earlier. Superior would hold a 3-1 after two periods.
It was soon a one-point game after St. Mary's scored short-handed at 00:38 of the third period. Superior wanted a two-goal cushion once again, as Bruno Birzitis (Riga, Latvia/Riga Distance Education Secondary) rebounded the puck after a 3-on-2. Lukas Denk (Brno, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Globe) was credited with the initial shot, getting the assist on the play.
St. Mary's would get within a goal once again at the 11:10, putting a little bit more pressure in Wessman Arena. But, it was Birzitis putting the pressure back on the Cardinal, scoring at 14:58, getting two assists from Ecklund who produced the original shot, followed by York, who turning the goaltender around, allowed Biritis the open net.
The Cardinal would pull their goalkeeper in the final two minutes of the contest, but not even the extra man could stop the 'Jackets, as Andrew Durham (Plano, Texas/Plano East) scored the empty-netter with 14 seconds remaining, assisted by Nickolas Klishko.
The Yellowjackets produced a dominant win, even though they had only one more shot and were even on penalties with the Cardinal, they proved they could execute when the pressure was on.
Kyle Miller (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) saw his first action in almost a month, making two, key, point-blank saves down the stretch for Superior. He made 23 saves on the night, getting his first win of the 2017-18 campaign.
The 'Jackets will be back in action next week, as they head down to Blaine, Minn. challenging Bethel on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
