After winning a thrilling game last Wednesday against rival Williston State College in overtime by 3-2, the Lumberjacks hit the road to take on Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles. The Lumberjacks came into the match up with a record of 6-4 and the Golden Eagles at 4-3.
In the first game of the weekend, the Lumberjacks got on top right away as Chayse Haberman found the back of the net, assisted by Eric Hildebrand and Phillip Praisien. The Golden Eagles tied the game, eventually taking the lead at the 18:12 mark in the first Period. This gave the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead. That lead would stand throughout the second period as neither the Lumberjacks nor the Golden Eagles could sneak one across the goaltender.
In the third period however, the Red Lantern lit up multiple times. The Lumberjacks had goals by Zane Macdonald and Geoffrey Dick to take the lead with just over 3 minutes into the 3rd period. The Lumberjacks held that lead until Mitchell Coleman tied it up for the Golden Eagles, then Tyler Zahradka gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good at the 14:12 mark. The Golden Eagles chipped one in late to give them the win, with the final score reading Golden Eagles 5 Lumberjacks 3.
Determined to flip the script, the Lumberjacks came out firing on all cylinders on Sunday. They knocked in three goals in the first period and the Lumberjacks gained a lead that they would never see go away. Eric Hidebrand got the scoring started for the Lumberjacks followed by goals by Ian Amsbaugh and JJ Adams.
In the 2nd period Zane Macdonald scored his second goal of the weekend to put the Lumberjacks up 4-0. That would be the only goal of the 2nd period as goal tender Matt Trulsen and the Lumberjacks defense were able to keep the Golden Eagles at bay. Zach Veitch scored at the 5:21 mark in the 3rd period to give the Lumberjacks a 5-0 lead. The Golden Eagles made it interesting as they scored the final goals of the game. It was not enough though, and Lumberjacks won 5-3. "It was good to get a split on the road to a good UMC team. We came ready to go the second day and it showed with a strong first period." Coach Rybchinski commented on the weekend.
Next up for the Lumberjacks is a trip to Minot on Wednesday to square off with Division 1 opponent Minot Stat University Beavers who are currently ranked #2 in the nation. Followed up by next Sunday on the road as they square of with the Jimmies Division 2 team in Jamestown.