The men’s hockey team played strong  last weekend against two Minnesota schools — Bethel University (Minn.), winning 5-0, and Hamline University (Minn.) with a score of 5-3.

“It took us a little while to get going,” senior captain Tyler Romasco said about the Hamline game.

Hamline scored first getting to an early lead. The Blugolds battled back scoring four unanswered goals through two periods played.

‘“We had kind of a lull in the third,” Romasco said.

Hamline wasn’t going quietly, scoring two goals in the third period to make the score 4-3 Blugolds.

“We showed our killer instinct to get that goal,” Romasco said.

Junior forward Jordan Singer answered the call. Singer scored his fourth goal of the year and second of the game in the third period to clinch the win.

Singer was just coming off being named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association athlete of the week.

“Expectations are high for (Singer),” coach Matt Loen said. “He is an offensive leader.”

Singer led the team last year with 13 goals and 16 assists.

“He’s (an) unbelievable hockey player,” Romasco said. He added that he has played with Singer for the past three years and is his linemate this year.

“I like to pass and he likes to shoot, so it works out,” he said.

Romasco assisted both of Singer’s goals against Hamline.

The men’s hockey team is ranked 15th in the nation according to the United States College Hockey Organization polls.

The Blugolds are 3-1 heading into the weekend series versus conference rival St. Scholastica (Minn.).

“We have to worry about ourselves,” Loen said. “(Scholastica) wins games by outworking people. So we need to play our game and good things will happen.”

As far as a season-long outlook, last year the Blugolds missed the NCAA tournament bid by one win, Loen said.

“We want to get better every week,” Loen said.

Additionally, last season the Blugolds posted a 15-11-1 record; their best since the 1994-1995 season when they went 16-11-0.

“Game one is just as important as game 25,” junior captain Andrew McCabe said.

The puck drops against St. Scholastica at Hobbs Ice Arena tomorrow at 7 p.m.