FOND DU LAC, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team faced off against Marian University (Wis.) tonight and secured a 3-2 victory. The victory was the third straight for the team.
The Blugolds came out early, with Ashley Baugher (Fr.-Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) scoring in the tenth minute for the Blugolds. The goal was her first of the season.
After Marian scored on a power play in the fifth minute of the second period, the Blugolds answered with a power play goal of their own in the tenth minute. Forward Sam Knutson (So.-North St. Paul, Minn.) scored the goal, with Emily Larson (Jr.-Bemidji, Minn.) and Nikki Kothenbeutel (Jr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) assisting. Marian managed to tie the game at two with a goal in the 18th minute of the second period.
UWEC broke the tie with an early goal in the third period off the stick of Amanda Kane (So.-Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul). From there, the Blugolds relied on their strong defense, limiting Marian to only three shots in the entire third period.
The Blugolds relied on the goal keeping of Kim Van Brunt (Fr.-Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines), who played well and stopped 14 of Marian's 16 shots for the game.
Eau Claire is now 4-5-2 on the season and 4-3-2 in the NCHA. The Blugolds have gone unbeaten in their past five games (three wins, two ties). Marian drops to 3-5-2 overall and 2-3-2 in the NCHA.
The two teams will play again tomorrow to wrap up the weekend series. The match will be played at 2 p.m. at the Blue Line Family Ice Arena in Fond Du Lac.
-BP-
