The Pioneer Hockey Club snapped their 15-game losing streak on Oct. 13, during the second game of a two-game series with the Robert Morris College Eagles in Bensenville, Ill.

The Pioneers lost their first game 7-5 in an overtime shoot-out on Oct. 12, but got revenge against the Eagles the following night, winning 7-2.

The two-game series brought the Pioneer’s record to 1-3 on the season and gained them six points toward a playoff bid.

” This win helped us get the right foot forward going into our next game,” Aaron Frach, a sophomore captain, said.

Platteville’s offense started quickly in the first game when forward Brandon Kane scored in the first period. The Eagles answered back with a goal, tying the game at one.

Senior forward Skeets Sommerfeldt and Kane added two more goals that were both answered by the Eagles, leaving the score tied 3-3 in the second period.

Robert Morris scored an additional two goals in the third period, and the Pioneers trailed 5-3. Forwards Jake Liedtke and Adam Nelson each scored goals, tying the game 5-5 at the end of regulation.

Neither team scored in the five-minute overtime period, which then led to a five-shot shoot-out.

The Eagles scored two shots on goalie Jason Cebulski, giving Robert Morris a 7-5 win over the Pioneers.

” It was a very close game; we just didn’t get any breaks Friday night when we needed them,” coach John Clark said.

The Pioneer’s second game started off scoreless in the first period but heated up in the second. Platteville scored five goals while allowing none, ending the second period 5-0.

Robert Morris scored in the third period, but the Pioneers responded with a goal from Liedtke.

The Eagles scored their final goal of the game with just seconds left on the clock, bringing the final score to 7-2 in favor of the Pioneers.

” Saturday night we were quicker than they were,” Clark said. “Our first two goals were speed goals where we moved in from the outside to make the shot.”

” We used our speed well, played good defense and had good goaltending,” Nelson said.

Performances from freshman goalie Cebulski and junior goalie Mike Krueger stood out for the team on defense, while freshman forward Kevin Nolen had a good second game on offense, scoring two goals.

” We have a young team with a lot of talent,” Eric Pollard, a senior captain, said. “If we can harness that talent, we’ll do well this year and be a tough team to beat.”

The Hockey Club was founded in 1973 and has 22 players on the roster.

The season started the first day of school and ends in March. It costs $400 to join, and students can join at any time. Practices are held in Dubuque, Iowa and in Dodgeville.

Up next, the Pioneers take on Loyola University for a two-game series at the Winnetka and Wilmette Ice Arenas in Winnetka, Ill. The next home series is Nov. 15-16 at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque.

More information on the Pioneer Hockey Club can be found on the team Web page at uwplatt.edu/org/uwphockey.