Blue Devils end Blugold season 13-13-1

After strong starts in both games, Eau Claire falls to UW-Stout over weekend

Josh Metz

Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Sports

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Sophomore Tim Possehl helps Junior goalie Tyler Brigl defend the goal during Friday night's NCHA quarterfinals game against the UW-Stout Blue Devils at Dunn County Ice Arena in Menomonie; The Blugolds fell to the Blue Devils both nights of the double header.

The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team saw its season come to an end this past weekend. The Blugolds lost 5-3 Friday night and 2-1 Saturday night in the two-game series against rival UW-Stout. This was the second year in a row that Stout has ended the Blugolds' season.

The series was the beginning of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) playoffs. The Blugolds went into the series as the seven-seed while Stout was the two-seed.

Earlier in the season Stout defeated the Blugolds in both regular season games, but that did not matter to the team going into the series.

"The attitude was good, we thought we were going to win," junior goaltender Tyler Brigl said. "Stout's an extremely good team, they're tough."

On Friday night the Blugolds led most of the game, but could not hold off a late surge from the Blue Devils.

Senior defenseman Greg Petersen got the Blugolds on the board first with a power play goal midway through the first period.

Stout tied the game in the second period, but Eau Claire regained the lead on a goal by junior Skylar Christoffersen.

Early in the third period Christoffersen struck again to give the Blugolds a 3-1 lead. That's when Stout took matters into its own hands and scored four unanswered goals.

Stout outshot Eau Claire 34-31 in the game. Brigl played the entire game for the Blugolds and recorded 29 saves.

In order for the Blugold's season to continue, they needed to defeat Stout Saturday night and then win a 20-minute mini game to move on in the playoffs.

The Blugolds got off to a good start for the second night in a row, as they took the lead early in the first period. Junior forward Tyler Weigel scored the even-strength goal.

Continued...

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