JANESVILLE, Wis. — The Beloit College Buccaneers mounted a spirited third-period comeback attempt but ultimately fell short against the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets, dropping a 3-1 decision tonight at the Woodman's Sports & Convention Center.
Despite being outshot and trailing early, the Buccaneers (2-6-1, 1-4-0 WIAC) relied on stellar goaltending and a late power-play surge to turn the game into a nail-biter in the final minutes.
The standout performance of the night belonged to the Beloit goaltender Andrew Yocum (St. Louis, MO). Facing a relentless Yellowjacket attack that generated 36 total shots, Yocum kept the Buccaneers within striking distance all evening.
Yocum recorded 33 saves, including an 18-save barrage in a difficult second period where the Buccaneers ran into penalty trouble. His efforts anchored a penalty-kill unit that successfully neutralized four out of five UW-Superior power plays, preventing the game from slipping away when the Yellowjackets controlled the puck possession.
Trailing 2-0 entering the final frame, Beloit began to tilt the ice. The Buccaneers' faceoff unit, led by J.D. Shoniker (Burlington, ON), provided a crucial platform for possession. Shoniker was dominant in the circle, winning 14 of 21 draws (66.7%), helping Beloit secure a 52.5% edge in faceoffs for the game.
The momentum shift culminated late in the third period. With a power-play opportunity and time winding down, Beloit opted for an aggressive strategy, pulling Yocum for an extra attacker to create a 6-on-4 advantage.
The gamble paid off at the 17:35 mark. Shoniker found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, capitalizing on the man advantage. Mac Reed (Waunakee, WI) and Jack Baird (Riverside, CA) were credited with the assists on the play, which cut the UW-Superior lead to 2-1 and injected new life into the Beloit bench.
With the deficit narrowed to a single goal, the Bucs continued to press for the equalizer. The defense tightened, holding UW-Superior to just nine shots in the third period compared to 19 in the second.
However, the comeback bid was extinguished in the final seconds. With Yocum pulled once again for an extra attacker, UW-Superior's Kade Shea managed to score on the empty net at 19:47, sealing the 3-1 victory for the visitors.
The Buccaneers and Yellowjackets meet again tomorrow evening at the Woodman's Center. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.
