APPLETON, Wis. -- Marc Howe's goal with 5:48 left in the third period lifted the Lawrence University hockey team to a 3-2 nonconference win over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Saturday night at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Lawrence (1-0-0) trailed 2-1 heading into the third period of the season opener for the Vikings. The Vikings tied it early in the third period on freshman forward Brad Scurfield's first career goal. Scurfield came up with the puck after a scramble in front of the net and stuffed it past Scott Pederson.
The Blugolds (0-2-0) had just killed off a penalty when Howe took a pass Sam Johnson and scored to put the Vikings ahead for good.
Eau Claire pulled its goaltender for the final 1:11 but Lawrence goaltender Evan Johnson made the Vikings' lead stand up. Johnson made 32 saves on the evening, and Pederson had 21 for the Blugolds.
Eau Claire led 1-0 when Isaiah Bennis scored at 13:22 of the first period. He picked up his own blocked shot and beat Johnson. The Vikings tied it at 1-1 just 2:48 later when Ben DiMarco scored on the power play for the Vikings off assists from Corey Garrett and Gustav Ahlberg.
The Blugolds took the lead back when D.J. Clark scored 6:31 into the second period on the power play.
Eau Claire was 1-for-7 on the power play, and the Vikings were 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.
Lawrence’s win over Eau Claire was the first in three tries against the Blugolds and only the fourth time the Vikings have ever beaten a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association opponent.
Lawrence returns to action next weekend when it has a home-and-home series with Concordia University of Wisconsin.