Danielle Ryan

The UW-Eau Claire men’s hockey team kicked off its season on a two-game losing streak this weekend.

The Blugolds fell 5-3 Friday against Marian University at Hobbs Ice Arena, and lost 3-2 Saturday at Lawrence University. The pair of losses put Eau Claire’s season record at 0-2.

Eau Claire senior Joe Bluhm scored off assists from senior Brant Marple and freshman Jordan Singer about four minutes into Friday’s game to give the Blugolds an early 1-0 lead. Marian scored nearly five minutes later, and the Blugolds never re-caught their early lead.

Marian scored two more goals inside the first three minutes of the second period to extend its lead to 3-1. Both teams then traded goals until the end of the game.

Marple blamed the loss on the Blugolds’ defensive performance, noting the team’s offense played well.

“The goals should come.” Marple said. “We definitely need to play better defensively, but I think we’re getting the shots and the chances offensively.”

Eau Claire outshot Marian 39 to 30, and also did better in the penalties category, racking up only four penalties to Marian’s seven.

On Saturday at Lawrence, the Blugolds again were the first to score, this time off an unassisted goal by freshman Isaiah Bennis in the first period.

Lawrence tied the game later in the first period, but Eau Claire took back the lead in the second period off a goal by senior D.J. Clark. Sophomore Tyler Romasco and senior Tyler Weigel fed the assist.

The Blugolds played with the one goal lead until the third period, when a pair of Lawrence goals snatched the advantage from Eau Claire.

Eau Claire again outshot the opposition Saturday, racking up 34 shots to Lawrence’s 24. And Eau Claire also did better Saturday in the penalties category, recording five penalties to Lawrence’s seven.

“It was the same type of game (as Friday),” Marple said of Saturday’s loss, noting the team again played well offensively but struggled on defense.

This year’s 0-2 start is the first time the Blugolds have begun their schedule with two losses since the 2004-05 season.

Eau Claire will launch a four-game stint at home Friday, when the Blugolds will host Augsburg University (Minn.) at Hobbs. The Blugolds then host Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Saturday, and UW-River Falls on both Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. All games will start at 7 p.m.