Posted: Jan 19, 2013
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — A short-handed goal will likely come back to hurt you in a game. Two short-handed goals, well that's almost certain to spell disaster. That is how it turned out for the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team, as they gave up two short-handed goals and fell 2-1 to UW-Stevens Point Saturday afternoon at Hobbs Ice Center.
The two teams were coming off a low scoring 1-0 Pointers (10-6-2, 8-3-2 NCHA) victory Friday night in Stevens Point, and the offense was certainly lacking again for both teams. But the Blugolds (6-10-3, 5-7-2 NCHA) struck first midway through the first period.
Sam Knutson (So.-North St. Paul, Minn./North St. Paul) buried a shot top shelf on assists by Tory Heller (Fr.-Cottage Grove, Minn./Hill Murray School) and Dani Kerr (Sr.-Little Canada, Minn./Roseville) for the 1-0 lead.
Both teams were held at bay through the first period, as neither team came up with any other quality chances. But in the second period, the Pointers came through with their first short-handed goal to tie it back up at 1-1.
Trying to set up the power-play in the offensive zone, a Blugold shot was blocked at the blue line that sprung the Pointers on a breakaway and they capitalized with a backhander past Paige Turner (Fr.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East).
The Pointers controlled the third period, but they were not able to solve Turner and it looked like the game would head to overtime. But as the Blugolds took over on another power-play, it was the Pointers who struck again with 1:47 to play.
With time winding down, the Blugolds could not get the puck in the offensive zone until 0:16 left when they were finally able to get Turner off for the extra attacker. But by then, it was too late.
The Blugolds were held to only two shots in the third period, giving them 14 for the game. The Pointers on the other hand, put up 15 shots in the final frame, and finished with a total of 36.
Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power-play, but it was the two short-handed goals that proved to be the difference.
Turner finished with 34 saves on 36 shots in another strong performance in net for the freshman.
The Blugolds are off now until Feb. 1 when they travel to St. Scholastica, Minn. for a two game series with the Saints.
-JM-
