The Gustavus men’s hockey team out-shot UW-Eau Claire, 32-23, but fell to UW-Eau Claire 5-2 on Saturday night in Eau Claire. The loss brought the Gusties’ seven-game unbeaten streak to an end. Junior Jon Keseley (St. Louis Park, Minn.) scored a goal and an assist to lead the Gusties, who fall to 9-3-1 overall. UW-Eau Claire improves to 2-12-3 on the season.
Gustavus enjoyed a healthy 12-5 advantage in shots during the first period, but neither team managed to slide a puck into the net during the game’s first 20 minutes.
It looked as if the second period would be a repeat of the first until the 9:15 mark when UW-Eau Claire took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brooks Lockwood. Chip Dunleavy added another goal 3:33 later when he beat Gustavus goalie Kevin Johnson (Wayzata, Minn.) with a shot.
The Gusties would cut the lead in half in the final two minutes of the period as junior Mike Hosfield (Golden Valley, Minn.) put a shot past Blugold goalie Steffan Braunlich with 1:36 showing on the arena clock. The euphoria created by Hosfield’s goal would be quickly dashed as Dave Coleman beat Johnson for another goal with just 54 seconds remaining on the clock to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
UW-Eau Claire carried the momentum created by Coleman’s goal into the third period, increasing the lead to 4-1 just 58 seconds into the final period on a goal by Ben Bosworth. Gustavus countered at the 5:17 mark of the period as Keseley put the second Gustie goal on the board to make the score 4-2.
Dunleavy added an empty net goal in the game’s final minute to make the final score 5-2.
Seniors Loren Havemeier (Sleepy Eye, Minn.) and Eric Lindquist (Bloomington, Minn.) and sophomore Sami Idris (Gothenburg, Sweden) each added an assist for Gustavus.
The Gusties, who entered the game leading the nation in power play efficiency (32.1 percent) converted on only once (Keseley) in six opportunities.
With his assist of Hosfield’s goal, Keseley extended his point-scoring streak to 15 games stretching back to last season.
Johnson allowed four goals and made 18 saves in taking the loss in his first collegiate start.
Gustavus will jump back into MIAC play next weekend (Jan. 20-21) with a home-and-home series with Saint Mary’s.