EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team held onto an early lead and was able to get its first win of the season at home as it defeated Adrian College 2-1 at Hobbs Ice Center.

The Blugolds came out hard in the opening period spending a majority of the period in Adrian's zone. However, Eau Claire took a couple penalties and was outshot 11-5. 

In the Second period, the Blugolds got things going as they scored the first goal of the game.  Nikki Kothenbeutel (So.-Sauk Rapids, Minn/Sauk Rapids-Rice) scored on a scramble in front of the goal at 9:44.

The Bulldogs tied the game up in the third period within the first minute on a shot that went over the stick shoulder of Blugold goalie Morgan Pieper (Sr.-Williams, Minn./Warroad).

The Blugolds would not settle for a tie and at 3:54, Allison Malecek (Jr.- Maple Plain, Minn./Delano) got the puck past the goal line on a pass from Sam Knutson (Fr.-North St. Paul, Minn./North St. Paul) and Andi Husted (Fr.- Scottsdale, Ariz./Shattuck St. Mary's).  The goal was enough to keep the Blugolds ahead and eventually won the game 2-1.

Piper got the win and improves to 2-3-1.  She had 27 saves on the night and only allowed one goal. 

Tomorrow night, the Blugolds will return to action and look to sweep the Bulldogs at Hobbs Ice Center.  The puck will drop at 7 p.m.

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