ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team secured its first win of the season, defeating St. Catherine University (Minn.) 3-0 at Drake Arena tonight.
It took more than half of the game for either team to get on the board but Mariah Czech (Fr.-Andover, Minn.), assisted by Paige Dale (Fr.-Andover, Minn.), scored her first collegiate goal at 15:38 in the second period to give Eau Claire a 1-0 lead.
While there were just three penalties going into the final period, the teams combined for seven over the first 14 minutes of the third period.
With less than three minutes remaining, Hadley Cookson (So.-Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) gave the Blugolds a 2-0 lead with her first goal of the season. Andi Husted (Jr.-Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) assisted on the goal.
Sam Knutson (Jr.-North St. Paul, Minn.) sealed the deal for Eau Claire, scoring at 18:33, short-handed on an empty net to give the Blugolds the 3-0 lead.
Kim Van Brunt (So.-Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) got the win for Eau Claire as she stopped 17 shots and played the entire game. It was the second shutout of her career. She is 1-0-0 on the season.
The Blugolds are now 1-1-1 on the season while St. Catherine is 0-2. The Blugolds have won five straight over the Wildcats going back to 2004 and the series is now tied at 5-5-2.
Saturday the Blugolds will be at home to face St. Catherine for a game beginning at 2 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center.
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