The University of Wyoming hockey club split its first home series of the 2009-10 season last weekend, winning in Laramie but losing in Cheyenne.
The Cowboys skated to a 2-1 win Friday night over the United States Air Force Academy club squad in the first of four scheduled games this season against their American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Pacific Region rivals. The Falcons rebounded with a 4-1 victory Saturday night.
In the series opener at the Laramie Community Ice Arena, Jake Bates (Jackson) and Erik Blomberg (Parker, Colo.) scored goals and Kenny Ainsworth (Casper) stopped 25 shots to pace UW. Mitch Nelson (Sheridan) and Billy Ross (Superior, Colo.) recorded assists.
The Cowboys couldn't complete the weekend sweep at the Taco John's Events Center. Air Force broke a 1-1 tie with a late second-period goal and then scored twice more in the final 20 minutes. Ryan Allred (Laramie) netted UW's only goal.
The Cowboys (3-2) return to action this weekend with two games against Mesa State College, another Pacific Region rival, at Glacier Ice Arena in Grand Junction, Colo. The Mavericks (2-7-1) are coming off a forgettable weekend at the Seth Schupan Memorial Tournament in Michigan, where they were outscored 35-0 in three losses.
Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009