Waterloo had a successful quick road road trip to Sioux Falls Friday night, but "The Force" was not strong with them on Saturday night...

FRIDAY NIGHT VS. SIOUX FALLS

Four goals in less than a minute highlighted a high-scoring 6-4 Waterloo Black Hawks road win Friday versus the Sioux Falls Stampede at Denny Sanford Premier Center. The outburst included two goals for each team, after Waterloo brought a 2-0 lead into the second period...including two from Joe Cassetti.

Waterloo chased the goalie to the bench with a pair of goals separated by 22 seconds in the second....by Solag Bakich and James Marooney.

Matej Blumel scored twice in the third..including sealing the win with an empty net score as 1.8 seconds remained in regulation.

SATURDAY NIGHT VS. LINCOLN

The Lincoln Stars recorded go-ahead goals in all three periods, eventually pulling away from the Waterloo Black Hawks for a 7-4 win Saturday at Young Arena, during "Star Wars Night". The result ended a seven-game Stars losing streak. It also halted the Black Hawks’ six-game home winning streak. Waterloo had started the home ice run on November 17th versus Lincoln.

Matej Blumel started the scoring. The Stars scored the next two. However the Stars gave up the lead while attempting to widen it. During a power play, Wyatt Schingoethe slipped his shot past the goalie.

The pattern repeated itself in the second. Kyle Haskins gave Waterloo the lead. The Stars scored the next two. However, for the second consecutive period, a late Black Hawks goal tied it up. James Marooney sent Blumel on a breakaway with a long pass from deep in the defensive zone. The net-keeper deflected the resulting shot up in the air, but when it came down, it hit the goalie and bounced across the goal line.

It was all Lincoln in the third; the Stars added 3 goals to seal the win for the "dark side of the force".

Marooney’s Strong Week Rewarded

James Marooney recorded his first goal of the season on Friday; Monday, the league recognized that feat and the rest of the veteran’s accomplishments by naming him USHL Defenseman of the Week.

The biggest moment came Friday versus the Sioux Falls Stampede. Leading 3-0 in the second period, Marooney went to the net and snapped a shot to the twine. It proved to be a crucial goal which kept the Hawks in the lead when Sioux Falls rallied to make it 4-3 before the end of the period.

Marooney also recorded three assists last week. Two came on Monday – both in power play situations – as the Hawks shutout the Madison Capitols 4-0. Saturday, the 19-year-old also picked up a point with a breakout pass on a Matej Blumel goal during Waterloo’s loss to the Lincoln Stars.

With four points last week, Marooney pushed his total to 12 this season (one goal, 11 assists) in 31 games. That doubles his point total from last season, achieved in 35 games.

ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND

The Black Hawks’ next games are part of a (critical points swinging) weekend swing to Kearney, Nebraska, next Friday and Saturday to visit the Western Conference-leading Tri-City Storm.
Waterloo returns home on Tuesday, January 15th vs. Sioux City. For tickets, call the box office at 319-232-3444.

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