Trailing 2-1 late in the second, Wisconsin-Eau Claire scored three goals in a span of 3:11 to hold off St. John’s, 4-2. Kurt Weston scored two goals for the victorious Blugolds, and David Donnellan added two assists.
St. John’s didn’t make it easy, forcing Wisconsin-Eau Claire to come back twice. Michael Palmiscno scored at 7:33 for the Johnnies before Weston notched a five-on-three power-play goal at 13:20 to even the score after one.
Tobias Linbro put the Johnnies back in front at 11:14 of the second, potting his own rebound. However, St. John’s couldn’t enjoy the lead, as just 1:17 later, Devin Mantha scored to tie it.
Isaiah Bennis scored on a deflection off a St. John’s player’s skate at 5:38 to put the home team in front, and Weston got his second goal of the game just 1:20 later.
Brandon Stephenson made 25 stops for the Blugolds, who now go on to face conference rival St. Norbert in a rematch of last week’s Peter’s Cup Championship, which was won by St. Norbert, 3-0.
