Posted: Nov 17, 2012
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — For the second straight night, the UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls women's hockey teams were unable to determine a winner. After playing to a 1-1 tie, the two teams tied 2-2 Saturday evening at Hobbs Ice Center.
The Blugolds (1-5-2, 1-3-2 NCHA) struck first early in the first period. At 2:31, Andi Husted (So.-Scottsdale, Ariz./Shattuck St. Mary's) scored an unassisted goal, her first of the season, as the Blugolds capitalized on a turnover at the blue line by the Falcons (3-1-2, 3-1-2 NCHA).
But just 0:15 later, the Falcons responded on a shot that was initially saved by Blugold netminder Paige Turner (Fr.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East), but the puck bounced up in the air and behind Turner and into the net to tie the game 1-1.
It looked like the game would be more of an offensive battle than the previous night, but the first period came to an end with the two teams tied. The Blugolds did have to kill off four penalties in the first period, but were very strong on the penalty kill.
At 7:54 of the second period, Nikki Kothenbeutel (Jr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) sniped a shot past the Falcon's goaltender on a 2-on-1 to give UW-Eau Claire the 2-1 lead. Katie Ward (Sr.-Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids) assisted on the go-ahead goal.
The score remained that way until midway through the third period. At 12:34, the Falcons were able to get one past Turner and tie the game 2-2. Both teams had a few chances the rest of the way, but the period came to an end and they headed to overtime.
In overtime, the Blugolds were given a golden opportunity after a trip was called on the Falcons just 0:16 into the extra frame. But they could not capitalize on the player advantage and they finished the game in a 2-2 tie.
Turner was impressive once again in goal, turning away 38-of-40 shots, and made several key saves late in the game. The Blugolds were 0-for-3 on the power-play and finished the game with 22 shots-on-goal.
The Blugolds will be off now until Dec. 1 when they welcome St. Norbert to town for a two game series. They will play Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 against the Green Knights and both games are scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
-JM-
