Wisconsin-Superior Dominates Beloit in WIAC Hockey Showdown

The Wisconsin-Superior men’s hockey team had a successful series against first-year Beloit, winning both games in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) on December 1 and 2. The Yellowjackets triumphed with scores of 3-1 and 6-3, showcasing their skill and resilience at the Janesville Ice Arena in Wisconsin.

In the first game, Wisconsin-Superior took an early lead thanks to a goal from A.J. Reed. Tyler Ryder extended the advantage with a power-play goal in the second period. Despite a late push from Beloit, who scored on their own power play with just 2:25 remaining, the Yellowjackets secured the victory with a late empty-netter from Kade Shea. Jack Boschert made 18 saves, contributing to Wisconsin-Superior’s dominance, as they outshot Beloit 36-19.

The second game presented a different challenge for the Yellowjackets. They faced a rough start, conceding three goals in a rapid span of 4.5 minutes during the first period, with Carson Riddle scoring one for Wisconsin-Superior. Trailing 3-1 at the first intermission, the team regrouped. Back-to-back minor penalties on the Buccaneers allowed Justin Dauphinais and Collin Pederson to score on the power play, leveling the game early in the second period. Austin Paul then put Wisconsin-Superior ahead with another goal less than four minutes later. In the third period, Reed and Pederson added insurance goals, raising Wisconsin-Superior’s record to 7-5-1 overall and 3-3-0 in WIAC play.

Looking ahead, Wisconsin-Superior will face Beloit again on January 7, 2024, as they return from their holiday break.

Women’s Hockey Struggles Against Concordia-Moorhead

The challenges continued for the Wisconsin-Superior women’s hockey team, who faced Concordia-Moorhead in a nonconference series over the same weekend. The Yellowjackets struggled offensively, managing just one goal in each game. They lost 3-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday at Moorhead.

In the first game, Kendal Gustavsson scored on the power play to equalize at 1-1 during the second period, but Jaclyn Lloyd quickly restored Concordia’s lead. An empty-net goal in the third sealed the victory for the Cobbers. Jayda Moyer made 26 saves for Wisconsin-Superior.

Saturday’s match saw Aylie Dahl score late in the second period, but by then, the Yellowjackets were already down 3-0. Moyer had an impressive 34 saves, but Wisconsin-Superior ended the weekend with a record of 1-10-0. They will return to action on January 2, 2024, with a home-and-home series against Saint Benedict.

Men’s Basketball Faces Tough Loss

In men’s basketball, Wisconsin-Superior’s struggles continued as they fell to Wisconsin-Eau Claire 68-49 in a nonconference matchup on December 2. The Yellowjackets shot just 29% from the floor, unable to overcome a strong performance from UWEC, which never trailed in the game.

Despite a lackluster shooting performance, Evan Bennett led the Yellowjackets with a game-high 18 points. Wisconsin-Superior will seek to improve their record of 2-8 when they host Bethel on December 20, 2024.

Women’s Basketball Defeated by Wisconsin-Stevens Point

The Wisconsin-Superior women’s basketball team also faced a tough opponent, suffering a 66-49 defeat against Wisconsin-Stevens Point on December 2. Hope Carlson contributed significantly off the bench with 20 points, but it was not enough to secure a win.

Wisconsin-Stevens Point established a strong lead by halftime, with five first-half three-pointers helping them to a 38-21 advantage. Although Wisconsin-Superior attempted a comeback in the third quarter, they could not close the gap. They will take a break before participating in a two-game tournament at Wisconsin-Oshkosh beginning December 28, 2024.

As the teams head into the holiday break, Wisconsin-Superior looks to regroup and come back stronger in the new year.