UWS Men’s Hockey Falls to UWRF in OT, Women Swept by Blugolds

The Wisconsin-Superior men’s hockey team suffered a narrow defeat to Wisconsin-River Falls, losing 3-2 in overtime on January 25, 2024. This loss marked the second consecutive defeat in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) series, following a 5-3 loss the previous day.

In the game, UWS started strong with two first-period goals. Logan Nickerson opened the scoring just 1:51 into the match, and Justin Dauphinais extended the lead with a goal recorded at just 0.8 seconds before the first intermission. Despite the promising start, UWRF’s Keenan Ingram found the net twice, leveling the score in the second period with 9:20 remaining, and clinching the victory just 1:35 into overtime. UWS goalkeeper Jan Skorpik made an impressive 36 saves throughout the match.

The previous day’s contest saw UWS take an early lead with Blake Setter scoring at the 1:13 mark. UWRF quickly responded, tying the game within a minute and then scoring two additional goals in the first period. Although UWS fought back, with Alexey Yarmulnik and Daniel Roszival scoring in the second and third periods respectively, they were unable to regain the lead. In this game, UWS goalkeepers Jack Boschert and Kobe Grant combined for 34 saves.

Following these matches, UWS holds a record of 11-7-1 overall, with a WIAC record of 4-5-0. The team will host Wisconsin-Eau Claire for a two-game series on January 30-31.

Women’s Hockey Faces Tough Weekend Against UW-Eau Claire

In women’s hockey, the Wisconsin-Superior team faced a challenging weekend against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, suffering two losses. The first match ended in a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat, with the Blugolds scoring the game-winning goal just 48.1 seconds before the final buzzer. UWS rallied from a 3-1 deficit, with Avery Olenik scoring twice, including a power-play equalizer with 8:01 left in the game. Unfortunately, Madisyn Krumholz netted the decisive goal for UWEC.

On Saturday, UWS faced a more significant setback, losing 5-0. The Yellowjackets struggled offensively, managing only 22 shots on goal. Goalies Maddie Wostrel and Jayda Moyer combined for 37 saves, but the team could not find the back of the net against UWEC’s Kambelle Freije, who earned a shutout.

With a record of 1-18-1 overall and 1-6-0 in the WIAC, UWS women’s hockey is set to play a single game at Wisconsin-River Falls on January 31.

Basketball Teams Experience Narrow Defeats

In men’s basketball, UWS narrowly lost to Minnesota Morris, falling 80-78 in a closely contested game. Despite several players stepping up, including Gage Braiedy, who scored 16 points off the bench, UWS could not secure the victory. The Cougars led 37-31 at halftime and maintained their advantage throughout. UWS made a late push, with Nick Nordaune hitting a three-pointer to bring the team within one point with just four seconds remaining. However, a missed final shot sealed their fate.

The Yellowjackets’ women’s basketball team struggled similarly against Minnesota Morris, ultimately losing 59-48. A dismal third quarter, in which UWS scored only one point, proved decisive. The team shot poorly overall, finishing with just 12-for-38 from the floor in the first half. Hope Carlson led UWS with 14 points and nine rebounds, but the team’s offensive woes were insurmountable.

Currently, the men’s basketball team stands at 5-13 overall and 1-4 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, while the women’s team has a record of 6-12 overall and 3-2 in the same conference. Both teams will host Crown on January 28.