EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team got its first conference sweep of the season as it shutout Marian University 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Hobbs Ice Center.
The Blugolds started out strong in the first period as they outshot the Sabres 13-2 but the Sabre goalie was a brick wall knocking away all the shots the Blugolds tried to make. As the whistle blew for the end of the first period the game was tied up 0-0.
True to form the second period got exciting with the Blugolds offense coming to life. Nikki Kothenbeutel (So.-Sauk Rapids, Minn/Sauk Rapids-Rice) came out of the first period break ready to score. She slid one past the Sabre goalie to score her fourth goal of the season 28 seconds into the second period. Kothenbeutel came back again at 11:24 to score the second goal of the night with assists from Dani Kerr (Jr. – Little Canada, Minn./Roseville) and Toni Simones (Sr.-Rosemount, Minn./South St. Paul). Within two minutes of her assist, Simones would score on the power play opportunity made possible by Sabre player Kristin Skubic. Kerr got her third assist of the day as she was a part of all three goals that the Blugolds scored.
The Blugolds held onto their lead all the way through the third period. They outshot the Sabres 34-13. Both Mara Stormer (Jr. – Waunakee, Wis.) and Ally Derthick (S. - Knoxville, Tenn./New Hampton Prep) would see time in the goal for the Blugolds. Stormer had eight saves in 40 minutes of play and Derthick had 5 saves in 20 minutes of goal time.
The Blugolds travel to River Falls next weekend to take on the No. 7 UW-River Falls Falcons next Friday night at Hunt Arena. Game action gets underway at 7:05 p.m.
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