Jags Get Defensive in Win Over Eagan

EAGAN, Minn-- The Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars won their fifth game in a row by defeating the Eagan Wildcats in Lake Conference action Thursday night. They won a tight checking 3-2 game at the Eagan Civic Arena and avenged an earlier 4-3 overtime loss at the hands of the Wildcats in December.

John Roisum buried a rebound goal past Eagan goaltender Tommy Bodeker at 9:52 of the third period as it would stand up as the game winner. Roisum's 9th goal came just 2:13 after the Wildcats tied the score midway through the third on a hard working goal by Andrew Lacher. He benefited from a play at the left blue line by Eagan's John Carroll who found Lacher in the slot area for an odd goal that bounced off the stick of Jaguar goalie Eric Fabano. It was the steady play of Fabano, who improved is record to 6-0 on the season that was the difference in the game.

Jefferson's Caleb Herbert, who has caught the attention of many a scout in the Twin Cities area, opened the scoring at 4:40 of the first period as he deposited a rebound off a hard shot by Ryan Siiro. It marked the 19th goal of the season for Herbert as he blended a solid physical and skilled effort on Thursday night.

Eagan (15-4-1, 11-3-1) is known for their effective power play and they struck to tie the game at one as defenseman Danny Muck fired one home from Michael Zajac. It was Muck's 9th goal of the season and he was a steady force in moving the puck and generating offensive chances from the back line against the Jaguars. An evenly played territorial first period, the Jags did limit the Wildcat's opportunities in five on five play, and held an 8-2 margin in that category.

Joe Faust was the best player on the ice and he delivered on the power play for his Jagaurs as he fired one through the five hole of Bodeker and at 6:57 of the second period. Jeffrey Pauluk set him up and it was Pauluk who was in on the game winner by Roisum giving him two assists for a total of 36 on the season.

Jefferson (15-3-2, 11-3-1) outshot the Wildcats by a 24-19 margin on the game. The Lake Conference took a bit of a different look as they Jaguars jumped into a tie the Wildcats for second place. A 3-2 loss by the Eden Prairie Eagles to the Burnsville Blaze has made things interesting for the top spot in the Lake Conference. The Jaguars and Wildcats are now one point off the pace, although they have played one more game in the conference than the Eagles.