SUPERIOR, Wis. – After three games away from home, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team returned to the friendly confines of Wessman Arena Saturday, looking to stay on the roll that has produced three consecutive wins, and after Friday, had them tied for the top spot in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
Maybe in this instance, however, friendly isn't the correct word. The Yellowjackets have had their struggles at home early, posting a 1-2-0 record and being outscored 16-10 in those three contests.
 
Saturday's opponent, UW-Stout came in already having five wins under its belt, but they'd dropped their previous two contests and were looking to get back on a winning track.
 
Something had to give.
 
Saturday's contest featured a fast pace with two great skating teams, but in the end Stout, who entered play as one of the top scoring teams in the west, pulled away for a 4-1 win over the Yellowjackets at Wessman Arena.
 
The score was deceiving, as Stout scored twice late in the third period, including an empty-net goal in the final minute to pull away from the Yellowjackets (4-3-0, 1-1-0 WIAC).
 
After a scoreless first period the Yellowjackets were able to open the scoring on a power play in the second period. Quick puck movement neutralized an aggressive Stout penalty kill, and Colton Friesen (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Dakota Collegiate) found Tristan Therrian between the circles, and the freshman banked a shot off the post and in for his second of the year, making it 1-0 at 8:48.
 
Later in the period the Yellowjackets had multiple chances on the same shift to extend the lead, but Stout goaltender Tyler Masternack made a flurry of saves to keep it a one-goal game.
 
Coming off a successful penalty kill, Stout tied the game at 17:29 and less than a minute later, at 18:24 scored the eventual game-winning goal to pull in front 2-1.
 
Stout carried the momentum into the third period, outshooting the Yellowjackets 11-5 in the period and salting it away with a pair of goals. With the Yellowjackets bottled up in their own zone Stout scored a tap-in goal on the doorstep to make it 3-1 with 6:23 to go. They added the empty netter with just 27 seconds to play, making the final score 4-1.
 
Senior Nick Althaus (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) made his first start of the season Saturday and finished the game with 20 saves. The Yellowjackets outshot Stout 30-24 for the game.
 
The Yellowjackets are back on the road Tuesday for a clash with Marian University. The opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at the Blue Line Ice Center in Fond du Lac, Wis.