Warriors roll past Bulldogs

By Aaron Schneider

ALBERT LEA, Minn. – The Waldorf College hockey team rolled to a 7-2 victory over the University of Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) matchup.

The Warriors (9-6, 3-2) had 11 players register at least one point in the series opener against the Bulldogs (2-7, 1-4).

Drew Soderberg led Waldorf with two goals. The Warriors also received goals from seniors Christian Weber, Reed Loucks, sophomore Matthew Liggett, freshmen Ryan Veillet and Robert Danyo.

Waldorf junior Spencer Johnson contributed three assists, recording his ninth point of the season. Senior Jake Taylor turned in two assists. Junior Artem Savelyev, sophomores Travis Park, Jeffrey Bartel, Weber and Veillet also contributed assists.

Ronald Paulson played 60 minutes in net for the Warriors. The sophomore collected 22 saves on the night. Waldorf outshot Minnesota-Duluth 45-24 in the game.

During the second minute of the opening period, the Bulldogs struck first as Charlie Straus took a pass from Nolan Miles and put the puck in the back of the net.

Minnesota-Duluth held the lead until the 17th minute when Veillet evened the score with the help of Johnson and Bartel. Soderberg then capitalized off passes from Weber and Johnson with 13 seconds remaining in the first period.

The Warriors took a 3-1 lead when Weber added a goal from Park during the second minute of the second period.  Weber, a Charles City native, currently leads the team with 14 total points.

Five minutes later, Soderberg scored once again, coming off an assist by Taylor to boost Waldorf to a 4-1 advantage. The sophomore from Spiritwood, Saskatchewan has eight points with four goals and four assists on the season.

Four minutes into the third period, Loucks found the back of the net for his team-leading seventh goal of the season following passes from Veillet and Johnson.

The Bulldogs pushed in their second goal of the night two minutes later when Alex Laurman scored off passes from Justin Reinke and Jordan Schwandt.

The Warriors continued their attack, extending their lead as Danyo delivered a goal off passes from Savelyev and Taylor with seven minutes remaining in the game. Two minutes later, Liggett added Waldorf’s final goal unassisted.

The Warriors finish the season series with Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday when the puck drops at 2 p.m. at Albert Lea City Arena.