The UW Oshkosh hockey team picked up its first win 5-4 on Thursday, Sept. 29 over St. Norbert College in a back and forth contest which went to overtime
Senior captain Owen Ahlstrom said he was pumped up to finally get a mark in the win column.

“We knew we needed to get out of the slump as soon as possible so getting the win was huge for the program.” Ahlstrom said.

Oshkosh went up early in the first period, with Ahlstrom scoring a power play goal just 2 minutes and 36 seconds into the game off assists from Anthony Elsen and Tanner Good.

They took a 4-3 lead into the third period, but were outscored 2-1 in the third and the game was pushed to overtime.

That’s when Benjamin Jaeger scored just 45 seconds into the period with assists from Matt Edwards and Rex Whealon, completing the come-from-behind victory for the Titans.

Jaeger recorded two assists to go along with the game winning goal.

The Titans went were able to get their power play going as they went 2 for 5 on the power play after going 0 for 18 in their first four games combined and they outshot their opponent 46-31.

The Titans used this game as a bounce back as they got off to a slow start this season, losing their first two games to the University of Wisconsin Madison by scores of 3-7 and 4-7.

Ahlstrom was able to find some scoring over Madison as he scored a goal and had two assists. Jaeger also scored as he recorded a goal in the first game and an assist in the second.

The Titans then lost the next two games against Marian University by scores of 3-5 and 3-6 as Jason Johnson scored three goals in the two games while Jaeger and Elsen added two assists each.

Ahlstrom said the biggest thing they need to work on is stepping up their intensity.

“We are a much better team than we were last year,” Ahlstrom said. “However, we have not been working as hard as we did last year.”

Elsen said opening periods have plagued the team early this season as they have been outscored by a combined total of 2-8 in the first four games, but UWO finally won the opening period against Green Bay.

“The key was that we came out hard in the first and scored the first two goals and set the tempo right away,” Elsen said. “We just played as a team.”

Elsen said the team wants to keep the wins coming, it is essential they get out to a fast start and wear down the opposing goaltender.

“We have to get the puck to the net and shoot early and often on the other team’s goalie to try and create more scoring chances,” Elsen said.

Senior goalie Eric Vela said moving forward, the Titans will look to improve upon their .852 save percentage with better goaltending and overall defense.

“Knowing the exceptional abilities we both possess, we both just happened to hit a speed bump in the same time frame, and we look to put those performances behind us,” Vela said.

Vela said he would compare this season’s start to that of last year, when the team also got off to a slow start.

“Just like last year, our performances enhanced as the season progressed,” Vela said. “I’m not worried about it at all.”

Despite the 1-4 start, the team has allowed a goal just 30 percent of the time they have been down a man.

Johnson has been the leading scorer for the Titans this year with four goals. Jaeger leads the team with five assists and seven total points.

Ahlstrom said the Titans look to build off the momentum from the first win on Friday, Oct. 7 against Northern Michigan University at 2:30 p.m. at the YMCA.

“Pushing each other every shift of the game to outplay the other team,” Ahlstrom said.