Captain Cole Carlson scored four goals Friday night in the Cougars’ 7-5 victorious effort over Gonzaga. The hat trick helped the Cougs come from behind to take down their eastern Washington rivals at home .

A fast start to the game allowed for multiple chances on each end, but both goaltenders held strong through the first seven minutes. However, a tumbling Lex Ballard fell to the ice and left the puck for a Gonzaga three-on-one where Colton Bowers tapped it by Alexei Kuhl to give the Bulldogs the first strike.

The Bulldogs lead did not last very long though, as Junior defenseman Reed Mullin sniped a shot through a screen from the point to tie the game for the Crimson sweaters. Although both teams continued to create chances, they were unable to put up any more on the score sheet, leaving the game tied at one by the end of the first.

“It’s a nice feeling to start out the scoring for the boys and get it rolling,” Reed Mullin said.

The second period portrayed more of the same with both teams unable to beat the goaltenders on most of their chances. Although the game seemed as though it was going to be a defensive showdown, Mason Cochten went crossbar and in off the faceoff with 11 minutes to go in the frame.

The goal from Cochten was just the start of a slew of second period scoring as Caden Clouthier rifled one past Kuhl minutes later to extend the Gonzaga lead.

“I mean it just happens in hockey you know. Trying to keep a level head is really the message I try to give,” Carlson said.

The Bulldogs’ multi-goal lead didn’t last long as Carlson cut the deficit in half with a signature toe drag and finished snipe by Gonzaga goaltender Charlie Hinche.

A couple minutes later the Bulldogs took a penalty leading to a WSU powerplay that had been ineffective all season and stayed consistent with the trend. Ballard turned the puck over on the rush, allowing a top-line odd man rush for GU where Cochten found Bowers to stash it home. The shorthanded goal gave GU the two-goal lead back making it 4-2 with four minutes left in the middle frame.

“It’s about finding a way to score a couple goals and get that momentum back. That’s really the energy we want to have,” head coach John Lupinacci said.

What seemed like the same old powerplay for the Cougs turned upside down with a tap in goal from Keagan Lucas, putting the Cougars back behind by one. With the Cougars responding to adversity, it gave them a jump on GU.

With time ticking down, a hard forecheck from Van Rayner allowed him to find the stick of Carlson for his second to tie the game for the Cougars just before the third period.

After a couple costly mistakes earlier, Ballard made Gonzaga pay with a shot from the point, beating Hinche to give the Cougs their first lead of the night.

A few minutes later Carlson, who had a hat-trick in October against the Zags, slammed his third one home to give the Cougars a 6-4 lead and himself a hat-trick once again. However, the Bulldogs did not go away without a fight.

Cochten sent a blind pass to the front of the net and found Bowers for his third goal of the game. The dualling hat-trick from the Gonzaga captain made it 6-5 with under seven minutes to go.

Despite a valiant comeback effort late in the third period, Carlson put home his fourth goal of the night to make 7-5 with under two minutes left, sealing the game for WSU.

The top line for Gonzaga was responsible for all five goals against the Cougars, giving them a hard time on the defensive aspect of the game.

“Maybe tomorrow night slow them down a little bit more. I mean I think you gotta keep them to the outside. They’re really good players,” Lupinacci said.

Washington State will play a second game against Gonzaga Saturday for their final game of the Spring. Senior night at the Palouse awaits for four WSU seniors.