New Ulm downs LDC

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm boys hockey team continued to show improvement as it defeated Litchfield-Dassel-Cokato 4-1 Saturday at the New Ulm Civic Center.

Brett Burgau scored two goals -- one in the first period and one in the third -- as the Eagles improved to 7-5-2. Burgau has scored four goals in the past two games for the Eagles.

"I think we're just improving every game and hopefully we just keep getting better," Burgau said.

LDC's Mike Dvorak nearly gave the Dragons the lead in the first when he picked up a loose puck and fired it at New Ulm goalie Tyler Zollner, who made the save and alertly covered the loose puck.

New Ulm had a couple of chances later in the first after Andy Metzen picked up a rebound and nearly scored.

Then, with 2:52 left, the Dragons had their best chance to score in the period on Zac McCann's wrister that was glove-saved by Zollner with 2:52 left.

New Ulm got on the board when Burgau picked up a rebound on Metzen missed shot and found the back of the net, giving New Ulm a 1-0 lead.

"Andy Metzen took the shot, and the goalie had been kicking out big rebounds all night," Burgau said. "I just got a lucky bounce on my stick and was able to get it by him."

In the second period, the Dragons had a chance to score as a loose puck rolled around the goalie's crease, but Zollner made one of his 34 saves and fell on the puck.

Dave Hitchcock put the Eagles up 2-0 after he poked in the loose puck with 8:27 remaining in the second period. Hitchcock's goal was unassisted.

The Eagles led 2-0 after two periods, but the Dragons nearly scored late when Matt Hogg got open on a breakaway, but was unable to fool Zollner with 10 seconds remaining.

The Dragons came out firing in the third with three shots on goal early in the period.

Zollner stopped a pair of slapshost by Dvorak and later one by Matt Raisanen.

Jay Geisthardt nearly gave the Eagles a three-goal lead when his wrister sailed high, enabling LDC goalie Drew Dvorak to make a stick save.

Then, the Dragons caught another break when a loose puck danced along the red line before Drew Dvorak found it and fell on it.

Burgau later scored when he got open on a breakaway following a face-off and juked Drew Dvorak to the left and went to his right side.

"I just wanted to put a good move on him," Burgau said. "He's a good goalie and he made a lot of big saves tonight, so I knew I had to do something good. I just sneaked it by him I guess."

LDC broke Zollner's shut-out bid when Raisanen scored. Nate Kloos scored the final goal on an empty-netter.

Litchfield outshot New Ulm 35-26.

"We played our positions, we didn't have a lot of breakdowns," Burgau said. "Every once in a while Litchfield got up the ice a little too quick, but otherwise we played pretty good."

New Ulm hosts Albert Lea Tuesday.