Two top 10 teams battled in NCHA play and it was Adrian that prevailed, holding off Trine 4-3 at home.
The seventh-ranked Bulldogs scored three times in the final frame to secure the win over the No. 5 Thunder.
It was David Clarke that delivered the game winning goal, scoring with a little over five minutes to play as Adrian stretched its win streak to nine games. The Bulldogs are 12-3, with six of those wins coming on their home ice. They are 6-2 in league play.
Adrian has scored at least four goals in seven consecutive games and the win over Trine marked its third one goal win during the current hot streak.
Bradley Somers and Iam Amsbaugh both played well in the win, dishing out two assists apiece. Riley Murphy, Ben Loreto and Ryan Pitoscia all scored and Dershahn Stewart racked up 14 saves.
Adrian and Trine will meet against in mid-February, playing a home and home on the final weekend of the regular season.
Despite the loss, Trine is still atop the standings, leading St. Norbert by a point. The Thunder are 12-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the NCHA.
Pipers pull off sweep
Hamline won its two biggest games of the year, sweeping St. Olaf in a MIAC series.
Skating into the weekend on a five-game losing streak, the Pipers beat St. Olaf 4-3 on Friday night before closing things out Saturday with a 2-1 win.
Hamline improved to 5-10 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC as it swept the Oles for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
The Pipers scored twice in the second as they erased a one-goal deficit. Derek Becklin tied the game and Tanner Rausch delivered the game winner.
Maximilian Haselbacher tallied 26 saves as Hamline swept a weekend series for the first time all season.
Friday’s win was the Pipers’ first since Nov. 27. Thomas Carls and AJ Carls each tallied a goal and assist.
Gusties on a roll
Gustavus took down Saint Mary’s in a weekend MIAC series, beating the Cardinals 5-1 on both nights while stretching its win streak to four games. The Gusties have won 10 of their last 12, improving to 10-5 overall and 7-1 in the conference.
Gustavus has scored four or more goals in four straight games. Colin Androlewicz made 21 saves on Saturday while Hunter Newhouse scored twice and has tallied a team-best 10 goals this season for the league-leading Gusties.
In Fridays win, five different players scored goals, including one by Newhouse. Androlewicz made 20 saves.
Royals end non-league play on high note
Spencer Kring scored twice to help lead the way for Bethel in a 6-3 win over UW-River Falls on Friday. Chase Beacom added three assists and Austin Ryman came through with 30 saves, coming up with 12 in each of the final two periods.
The Royals have won four in a row and are now 7-5-1 on the season. They have gone 4-1-1 against WIAC competition this season.
Blue Devils impressive at home
UW-Stout has been tough to be beat on its own ice and that trend continued this weekend. The Blue Devils beat Augsburg 5-1 on Friday and topped Concordia 6-3 on Saturday. They are now 8-6-1. All eight of their wins have come at home, where they are 8-2.
Tyler Masternak stopped 35 shots against the Cobbers while Nicolas Pigeon found the back of the net twice. Zach Laurila and Noe Perez each tallied a goal and assist. Gunner Moore finished with two assists. Pigeon has scored 10 goals this year.
Nicholas Stevens dished out three assists in Friday’s win while Jacob Halvorson tallied a goal and assist. Maksis Brimanis added two assists and Masternak finished with 23 saves.
Eight wins and counting
UW-Superior keeps rolling along, pushing its win streak to eight games with a 2-1 overtime win over Saint John’s on Saturday.
Justin Dauphinais was the hero as he scored the game winner off an assist from Daniel Rozisval to give the Yellowjackets their longest win streak since November of 2008.
Kobe Grant came through with 33 saves as he won his fifth game of the season.
Dauphinais and Rozisval played a key role offensively, with Dauphinais scoring twice and Rozisvall tallying two assists.
The win caps an impressive run through non-league play as the Yellowjackets went 7-2-1 against opponents outside the WIAC. Superior owns a 12-3-1 overall record this season.
The victory was also the third of the OT variety this season. Superior is 3-0-1 in those games and improved to 4-0 when taking 40 or more shots in a game. They finished with a 41-34 advantage.
With its 7-1 win over the Concordia Cobbers on Friday, Superior improved to 7-0 in Friday night games, getting a goal and assist from Reed Stark and Trey Sauder. Blake Holmes tallied three assists.
Record broken
UW-Stevens Point took care of business as it beat St. Scholastica 6-3 on Friday and capped the weekend with a 4-1 win over Augsburg.
Peyton Hart broke a school record in the process as the No. 14 Pointers have won a three in a row and are 9-4-1 overall.
Hart scored twice in a span of 11 seconds. The previous mark was 24 seconds and was set in 1999 by Kevin Fricke. Alex Proctor came through with 29 saves. Andrew Poulias scored two goals in the win.
Ryan Maguire made 23 saves against Augsburg while Poulias came through with a goal and assist. Fletcher Anderson dished out two assists.
Raiders step up against Blugolds
Eddie Shepler had a big time game against UW-Eau Claire Saturday, recording a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Blugolds to help the Raiders complete a weekend sweep. Austin Schwab tallied 35 saves.
The six goals are the most this season by the Raiders, who have won four in a row and improve to 7-7-1 on the year.
In Friday’s win, Schwab stood out as he came up with his second consecutive shutout win, racking up 24 saves in the victory.
Charlie Skinner and Brennan Dickey both scored in the win.
