EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team pulled off its first conference win of 2012 as it defeated Marian University 2-1 at the Hobbs Ice Center.
The Blugolds came out fired up and ready when the puck dropped in the first period. Stephanie Hatcher (So.-Burnsville, Minn./Lakeville North) scored the first goal of the night at 4:04 on an assist from Alyssa Ahlgren (Fr.-Hayward, Wis./Hayward), her first assist of the season. Casey McMullen (Jr.-Minneapolis, Minn./South) found the back of the net again for the Blugolds at 8:58 on a double assist from Abbie Hawthorne (Jr.-Brookfield, Wis./Central) and Emily Haluska (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH). As the whistle blew for the end of the first period the Blugolds were up 2-0.
The second period was bogged down with penalties and the majority of play was seen without all the players on the ice. The Blugolds had five penalties in the second period but were able to defend the power play. The Sabres had a total of two penalties and were also able to protect the goal on the power play.
Marian would get its lone goal in the third period at 1:06 when Rachel Mullen would sneak a goal past Blugold goaltender Morgan Pieper (Sr.-Williams, Minn./Warroad).
Pieper got the win for the Blugolds. She had 24 saves on the night. Kaytlin Ruzicka took the loss for the Sabres. She had 25 saves in goal.
The Blugolds will look for a home sweep tomorrow as they face Marian in an afternoon game at 2 p.m. Game action will be at the Hobbs Ice Center.
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