SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men's hockey team battled the No. 12 nationally ranked University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets at home Friday night at the Don Roberts Ice Rink, falling 4-3 in their season opener.
The Yellowjacket scored in the third minute of the game and then again in the closing minute of the first period to take a 2-0 lead.
Gustavus got on the board in the third minute of the second period as
Jayar Luedke scored the first goal of the season for the Gusties, assisted by
Sam Rice and
John Johannson, to cut UW-Superior's lead in half.
The Yellowjackets responded with their third goal 11 seconds later to retake their two-goal lead up 3-1.
Charlie Sandven brought Gustavus back to within one of UW-Superior in the ninth minute of the second frame, scoring with Rice assisting to set the score at 3-2.
The two teams battled back and forth from then on through the rest of the second period and into the third until the Yellowjackets broke through for a power play goal in the 15
th minute of the final frame to go up 4-2.
The Gusties answered three minutes later as
Grant Ellings scored with
Wilmer Svensson and
Nate Stone assisting to once again bring Gustavus within one goal, down 4-3.
UW-Superior's defense would hold for the final three minutes as the Yellowjackets secured the win over Gustavus.
Up next for the Gusties is their second game of the season and of their opening weekend as they host the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons on Saturday, November 8 at 5:00 p.m.
