EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – UW-Stout fell 5-2 in game two of the WIAC Tournament semifinal series to UW-Eau Claire and then the Blugolds won 2-1 in the second overtime of the tie-breaking mini-game.
Stout got on the board first, when
Gunner Moore got behind the defense and raced in to roof the puck past Gutjahr to put Stout up 1-0 just 2:53 into the game.
UWEC responded with a pair of power play goals 1:20 apart. The Blugolds tied the game on a deflection to the right of goaltender
Tyler Masternak at 10:32 of the first. 80 seconds later the Blugolds took the lead again on the man advantage.
UWEC extended their lead late in the second. At 17:40 the Blugolds took a 3-1 lead on rush down the right circle.
Stout answered quickly when
Nicolas Pigeon scored his eighth of the year on the power play at 18:39 to bring Stout within one.
The Blugolds regained the two-goal advantage 2:22 into the third period and extended the lead to 5-2 at 5:03. Stout managed just two shots in the period.
Masternak made 25 saves for Blue Devils
Then in the 20-minute mini game, UWEC found the back of the net first at 7:04. Stout picked up the intensity and
Jake McAlpine netted the equalizer with 4:19 left to play. Stout had several changes to score the go ahead goal in the final seconds, but were unable to get the puck past Gutjahr and the game went to a sudden death overtime.
Stout killed off an early power play and controlled play for most of the first overtime period. Stout had to kill of a 1:20 of 5-3 in the final two minutes of the overtime to force a second extra session.
At 14:12 of the second overtime. UWEC scored to secure the win and advance to WIAC Championship.
Masternak made 34 saves in the mini game.
