APPLETON, Wis. – In a gritty Sunday night showdown at the AFIC, the Beloit College Buccaneers (2-9-1, 1-5-0 WIAC) displayed a never-say-die attitude against Lawrence University (5-9-0, 1-7-0 NCHA). Despite a 4-1 final score in favor of the Vikings, the Buccaneers proved they could hang with a non-conference rivals, sparked by a standout performance between the pipes and a late-game surge that briefly tilted the momentum in Beloit's favor.
From the opening puck drop, the Buccaneers leaned heavily on goaltender Anthony Zolezzi (Oswego, IL). Facing a relentless Lawrence attack that peppered him with 12 shots in the first period alone, Zolezzi was the primary reason Beloit remained within striking distance. While Lawrence managed to sneak one past early in the first, Zolezzi's composure kept the deficit at a manageable 1-0 heading into the first intermission. He finished the night with an impressive 32 saves, including a massive 13-save effort in the second period to keep his team in the hunt.
The true momentum shift for Beloit occurred early in the third period. Entering the final frame down 3-0 after a tough short-handed goal by Lawrence late in the second, the Buccaneers refused to fold.
At the 05:14 mark of the third, Kaden Milles (Fairbanks, AK) capitalized on a brilliant setup from Nik Johnson (Minneapolis, MN) to find the back of the net. The even-strength goal injected immediate life into the Beloit bench, cutting the lead to 3-1 and forcing Lawrence onto their heels. For a ten-minute stretch following the Milles goal, the Buccaneers controlled the pace, utilizing their physical presence and generating several high-danger chances.
Beloit's offensive effort was spearheaded by Ben Stewart (Dayton, OH), who was a constant thorn in the side of the Vikings' defense. Stewart led all players in the game with a staggering 9 shots on goal. While he didn't find the scoresheet, his ability to create space and test Vikings' goalie Nolan Mahaffey provided the blueprint for the Buccaneers' attack.
In the faceoff circle, J.D. Shoniker (Burlington, ON) was nearly unstoppable. Shoniker won 8 of his 10 draws (80%), ensuring that Beloit started with puck possession during critical defensive zone starts and power-play opportunities.
While the Buccaneers struggled with penalty trouble—totaling 18 minutes in the box—their defensive unit showed flashes of brilliance. Johnson complemented his offensive assist with 2 blocked shots, while George Haigley (Cockeysville, MD) and Zach Hutchinson (West Salem, WI) also contributed key blocks to relieve pressure on Zolezzi.
The Buccaneers return to WIAC play on Wednesday, January 7th against the UW-Superior Yellowjackets. Puck drop from the Siinto S. Wessman Arena is set for 7 pm.
