Waterloo Black Hawks goalie Garrett Metcalf made 33 saves during a 5-0 shutout road victory versus the Des Moines Buccaneers. The Black Hawks move closer to the Lincoln Stars for second place.

The Tuesday (Mar. 29, 2016) win allowed the Black Hawks to edge within four points of the Lincoln Stars for second place in the USHL Western Conference Standings. The Tri-City Storm sit atop the West with 69 standings points. The Stars hold second with 67 points, and Waterloo sits at 63 points. All three teams have four games left in the regular season. The Fargo Force round out the top four with 60 points and five games yet to play this season.

Metcalf set the tone in the opening minutes, denying a breakaway by Bucs leading scorer Kenny Hausinger. The Hawks goalie made double-digit saves in each period, accumulating 13 stops in the first.

A blocked shot set up the game’s first goal minutes later. At 8:41, Hank Sorensen’s chance went off a leg and came to Nick Swaney, who flipped it in from the right circle. The Hawks added to the lead nearly five minutes later at 13:32; Jake Ryczek stepped around a defender, sweeping a pass to the top of the crease where Zach Yon was left with an open side.

After starting the second period shorthanded, the Black Hawks built their lead at even strength. At 5:51, Ryan Lohin made his way up right wing and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Nick MacNab. Into the game came Jan Ruzicka, but the new netmainder didn’t fare much better. Yon scored his second of the game, on a power play, at 7:06.

Sam McCormick went to the net to score the only goal of the third at 11:54. Yon’s pass from the left circle found McCormick in a scoring position just outside the crease, and the Ohio State recruit completed the rush by knocking the pass between the pipes.

The final Waterloo road game of the regular season will be Friday against the Lincoln Stars. The Hawks will then finish with three at home against the Sioux City Musketeers, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and Dubuque Fighting Saints.

GOALS BY PERIOD
            1  2  3  -  T
Waterloo    2  2  1  -  5
Des Moines  0  0  0  -  0 - Final

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