UW-Stout 3, UW-Superior 2 (Box Score)
SUPERIOR (February 19, 2016) -
Gavin Smith (Fr, Savage, Minn) and
Jake Useldinger (Sr, East Grand Forks, Minn) scored goals in the third period to lift UW-Stout to a 3-2 win over UW-Superior in the first game of a best of two game series in the first round of the WIAC Championship tournament at Wessman Arena Friday.
With the Blue Devils trailing 2-1 coming into the final period, Smith scored his third goal of the season at 11:55 to tie the score, getting an assist from
Riley Colvard (Jr, Centerville, Minn).
Five minutes later, Stout (10-11-5) would get what would prove to be the game winner when Useldinger scored his ninth goal of the season, but his first goal since Jan. 16, with assists by
Justin Moody (Jr, Grand Forks, Minn) and
Craig Lindegard (Jr, Hallock, Minn).
The Yellowjackets (8-15-3) pulled their goalie with a minute left, but got only two shots off and only one on frame with the extra attacker as
Nick Schmit (Fr, Fargo, ND) stopped the shot.
Moody got the Blue Devils on the board first, scoring on the power play with just over three minutes left in the first period, getting assists from Useldinger and Lindegard.
The Yellowjackets scored twice in the second period, getting goals from Eric Shand and Ian Ecklund, with Shand scoring at 11:57 and Ecklund at 17:16.
Schmit finished the night with 28 saves. Schmit's counterpart, Cory Simons had 27 saves as each team put 30 shots on net.
The teams will meet again Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Superior. Stout would take the series with a win or a tie. The Yellowjackets would have to win to force a mini-game.
Â
