Issued: January 23, 2003

PAIR OF SHORTHANDED GOALS NOT ENOUGH TO TOP BLUE DEVILS

MENOMONIE - Despite two shorthanded goals in the second period the UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team was unable to upend NCHA and WIAC opponent UW-Stout as the Blugolds fell to the Blue Devils 6-5 here tonight at Dunn County Ice Arena.

The Blugolds fall to 1-15-2 on the season, 1-5-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, and 1-7-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association action. The Blue Devils improve to 5-15-0 overall, 1-5-0 in WIAC play, and 1-8-0 in the NCHA.

Of the 11 goals scored in the game, only three came at even strength with the Blugolds scoring a pair of shorthanded goals, each team scoring a pair of power play goals, and Stout adding a goal on a delayed penalty. The two teams combined for 20 penalties and 45 penalty minutes.

Eau Claire got the scoring started in the first period when Ian Sgambelluri (Sr-Thunder Bay, ONT/St. Patrick's) shot one past the Stout goalie to give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead. Sgambelluri's goal was the only goal scored in the first period.

Rob Ouimette (So-Iron Bridge, ONT) put the Blugolds up 2-0 just 2:24 into the second period with an unassisted power play goal. The Blue Devils responded seven minutes later with an even strength goal to pull within one but Chip Dunleavy (Fr-Littleton, CO/Columbine) took advantage of an odd-man rush during a Stout power play to score a shorthanded goal and again give the Blugolds a two goal margin. Just 26 seconds later Stout scored another even strength goal to pull the score to 3-2. Again the Blugolds would respond with another shorthanded goal, this time by Ouimette for his second goal of the night to cushion the lead to two goals.

With less than five minutes remaining in the second period and five goals already being scored in the period, the Blue Devils were just getting started. Stout added a power play goal just 20 seconds after Ouimette's goal to bring the lead back to one goal. Less than two minutes later the Blue Devils scored on a delayed penalty call to tie the game up heading into the third period.

With the score still tied nearly eight minutes into the period, the Blue Devils struck again with another even strength goal to take their first lead of the game. With 4:55 remaining in the contest the Blue Devils scored their fourth unanswered goal, this time via the power play, to take a 6-4 lead over the Blugolds. Dunleavy added his second goal of the night with 31 seconds remaining on a 5-on-3 power play to bring the score to 6-5 but the Blugolds were unable to take advantage of the remaining power play as the Blue Devils finished the comeback victory over Eau Claire.

Dunleavy finished the night with three points on two goals and an assists while Sgambelluri and Ouimette had two points apiece. Blugold goalie Scott Sutton (Sr-Thunder Bay, ONT/St. Patrick's) ended the game with 38 saves out of 44 chances.

The Blugolds will next be in action this Saturday when they will travel to UW-River Falls to battle the Falcons. The game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m.

UW-Stout 6 (0-4-2), Eau Claire 5 (1-3-1)>

Scoring

1P: EC-Ian Sgambelluri (Chip Dunleavy, Chris Hunter) 9:45.

2P: EC-Rob Ouimette (unassisted) 2:24pp, ST-Curt Caverly (Justin Huth, Derek Nichols) 9:22, EC-Dunleavy (Sgambelluri) 11:43sh, ST-Bryan Cummings (Justin Huth) 12:09, EC-Ouimette (unassisted) 15:17sh, ST-Justin Huth (Bryan Cummings, Derek Nichols) 15:37pp, ST-Dan Riffe (Charlie O'Hearn, Andy Jasicki) 17:26dp.

3P: ST-Mitch Kellin (O'Hearn, Riffe) 7:48, ST-Huth (Mike Elm) 15:05pp, EC-Dunleavy (Hunter, Matt Gehr) 18:29pp.

Shots: ST- 14-14-16-44, EC- 19-12-8-38.
Saves: ST- Tim Elde 33, EC- Scott Sutton 38.
Penalties: ST- 10 for 20, EC- 10 for 25.
Power Plays: ST- 2 for 6, EC- 2 for 5.
Records: UW-Stout 5-15-0 (1-8-0 NCHA), UW-Eau Claire 1-15-2 (1-7-1 NCHA)